BURBANK -- The ongoing construction at Burbank and Burroughs highs
has had varying affects on both the school's girls' tennis teams.
For the Indians, their courts have been virtually untouched by the
renovation project. In fact, there have even been improvements made
to the facility.
"We have eight brand new courts," said Burroughs Coach Roy
Bernhardt, who also heads the boys' program. "All the courts have
been resurfaced and we have new nets and even a new wind screen. So
the courts look really nice.
"The great thing is that the Park and Rec Dept. paid for the whole
thing."
For the Bulldogs, their facility has been devastated by the
renovation. While some of the old courts have been eliminated to make
room for new buildings, others are filled will debris and are
unusable.
"We won't get our new courts for some time," Bulldog junior
varsity Coach Paul McNiff said. "The courts will be built in phase
three of the construction and they just finished phase one."
However, the good news for Burbank is it gets to practice and play
its matches at the impressive Burbank Tennis Center at nearby
McCambridge Park.
There is, however, one thing both teams have in common: some
athletes who played last season have decided not to come out for
various reasons.
While the Bulldogs will look to retain their stronghold on the
Foothill League championship, the Indians will counter with a young,
inexperienced squad that is still learning the ropes.
Here is a look at how the season is shaping up:
BURBANK
Coach Larry Lambert returns for his second season at the Bulldogs'
helm. For the coach and his players, one of the main focuses of the
season is to capture their third straight Foothill League
championship.
"That is what we want to do. A league championship is very
important to us," No. 1 singles Lucy Vouchkovets said. "We went 10-0
(13-4 overall) in league last season and we want to do the same this
season."
Lambert said he expects the biggest threat to the league crown to
come from Valencia.
"I know Valencia is definitely going to be tough," he said. "We
have to make sure we are ready when we play them. But I think we can
do it."
Repeating as the league champ might be a little more difficult
this season. The Bulldogs will be without No. 1 singles player from a
year ago -- Olga Yepremian -- who graduated and is playing at Cal
State Northridge. Yepremian was the league runner-up in singles in
2001.
"It should be tougher in league this year, that's for sure,"
