Coach downplays upcoming SBC Tournament

Jonathan Jacobskind/Staff Writer 

jonathan.jacobskind@fiusm.com

Beacon File Photo

Despite the magnitude of the tournament and the chance of earning an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, Applebaum-Dallau has downplayed the importance of the conference tournament in Denton, Texas.

“My philosophy on [the tournament] is not to make it a big deal. To me it is just another match,” Applebaum-Dallau said. “Just because there is a label on it does not really mean anything to me.”

The team has been working on routine baseline drills in preparation for the tournament.

Lisa Johnson has been pairing up with Karyn Guttormsen, the team’s leader in wins during singles play this season. Christine Seredni matched up with Giulietta Boha.

“We really have not changed anything in practice,” said Seredni, who is playing in her last Sun Belt Tournament as a senior. “We have been sticking to the same drills and such.”

Johnson takes most of her practice time to work on her fitness and cardio. She also spares extra time to focus on the minor details and aspects of the game as well as getting back in sync with Seredni.

Despite the enhanced motivation to win her final conference title, Johnson is sticking to her coach’s philosophy and is not changing their approach to this year’s tournament compared to last season, when they won the 2011 Sun Belt Championship.

“I’d say there is extra motivation. I definitely want to win it being that it’s my last year,” Johnson said. “Everything is still staying the same. It worked out last year when we won [the conference].”

The team has also been participating in consistency drills as well as working on serves and returns, which played a role in the last couple of matches for FIU. The Panthers have struggled with the serve, especially in the last game of the season. The Panthers dropped a 4-2 contest against No. 49 Fresno State on April 6.

Applebaum-Dallau, the 2011 Sun Belt Coach of the Year, maintains her confidence in how her team will fare in the tournament. During her four-year tenure at FIU, Applebaum-Dallau’s squad has only surrendered two losses within conference play.

Both of those losses came against North Texas, the host for the SBC Championships.

“Whether we are the number one seed or the number 13th seed, we are a team where people are going to say, ‘oh we do not want to play them,’” Applebaum-Dallau preached.

“So I tell the girls we just have to go one match at a time, regardless if it’s three or four matches in a row…our goals do not change, we just need to go out there, get it done and live in the moment.”