Nov. 17, 2004
UI Head Coach Sujay Lama's optimism for the future of the program has been boosted even higher by the decisions of two talented junior players to commit to studying and playing tennis at the University of Illinois. Maria Gugel and Shivani Dave will join the Fighting Illini in August of 2005.
Gugel, the 2003 U.S. Junior International Hard Court doubles champion and singles quarterfinalist, is from Moscow, Russia, but has dual citizenship and is Israel's second-ranked junior player. She has earned world doubles rankings as high as No. 93 in the ITF (for juniors) and No. 628 in the WTA. Gugel has been ranked in singles as high as No. 145 (ITF) and No. 802 (WTA). Both Gugel and Lama see a golden opportunity.
"The opportunity to train under two coaches that have had experience at the professional level and the chance to study in one of the top business schools in the country was the deciding factor in my choosing the University of Illinois," Gugel said.
The Illini mentor cited Gugel's poise, powerful serve and ground strokes in his raving assessment.
"She will make an immediate impact on our program," said Lama. "She is a big-time tennis player with a great deal of international experience. She is an outstanding student who is very motivated to succeed, both on and off the court."
Dave, a senior at Concord Carlisle High School in Concord, Mass., is the 2004 Massachusetts state high school singles champion and is ranked No. 1 in the New England section (18-under division). In addition, she holds a No. 72 national juniors ranking in her age group.
Lama lists an aggressive baseline game, acceleration on shots and excellent all-court coverage as the Dave's primary assets.
"We are very excited to have Shivani join our program. Shivani is an outstanding tennis player with tremendous potential. Speed and power are her strengths on the tennis court, but what stands out most about Shivani is her confidence. She expects to win every time she competes."
Dave is proud of her Indian-American heritage and says the discipline tennis requires has helped her personal development. Once enrolled at Illinois, she intends to study business and psychology.
"I am very excited to join a promising athletic program that is on the rise, and I hope to help the Fighting Illini win a national title," said Dave. "Given my interest in business, U of I's (reputation) is a major reason why I adamantly believe Champaign is the ideal place for me to be in my next stage of life. For me, the University of Illinois will provide a great balance between academics and athletics. I am confident that, with the right mix of work and play, I will be able to reach all of my personal goals in addition to being a valuable team player."
