New Mexico released its new schedule and the team is ready to begin its road-heavy start of the season at the Midland Invitational in Texas.
First year head coach Stephanie Wooten-Quijada said everyone has been very welcoming, and she likes what she sees as far as the team dynamic.
Her view of what team culture means seems to be very much in line with what already existed at UNM prior to her arrival.
“I really like that the culture of the team is very team-oriented,” she said. “They are very together and they work very hard.”
Wooten-Quijada inherited virtually the entire roster from last season, with Sharon Coone being the lone departure. However, the team also picked up two newcomers --Diana Wong and Cassie Chung -- to help fill that hole.
Sometimes freshmen can have difficulty adapting to the college game and buying into the team philosophy. But this team is full of leadership, as it returns five seniors to the court this fall to help with the transition.
Wooten-Quijada said it is amazing to have so many seniors on the team because of their experience. She said that should lead to a strong squad that will be flexible in terms of the lineups the team rolls out.
The new head coach said seniors Rachana Bhat and Andrea Leblanc are headed to the upcoming ITA All-American Championship in California, with Leblanc also competing in singles competition.
She said the younger players watching Leblanc take advantage of that opportunity should help put things in perspective while helping to provide them with a vision to work towards.
Wooten-Quijada said the team is looking forward to competing for the Mountain West conference title and trying to earn a strong ranking in the ITA polls to make the NCAA tournament.
The team should have a strong résumé when the selections are made. The Lobos are scheduled to play at home only once in the fall when it hosts the USTA/ITA Regionals, and again during a five-match home stand in the spring.
The rest of the team’s matchups are on the road against solid competition from major conferences, which Wooten-Quijada said should serve the team well.
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“I think that playing on the road is how you get mentally tough and learn how to battle through things,” she said.
The head coach said the Midland Invitational is an example of a big draw that can provide a barometer for where the team is early in the season. The three-day event begins Friday and is expected to feature Texas Tech, Baylor, and Rice, among other schools.
Wooten-Quijada said the main goal this weekend will be to get Bhat and Leblanc ready before heading to the ITA All-American Championships, and allowing the freshmen to gain some valuable experience.
Robert Maler is a sports reporter for the Daily Lobo. He primarily covers cross country, tennis, and track and field. He can be reached at sports@dailylobo.com or on Twitter @robert_maler.
