Women's Tennis

Stanford Wins 2002 NCAA Team Championship

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Stanford Head Coach Lele Forood ---

"The most memorable moment this season was when we lost to Georgia at the Team Indoors and our sophomores were just devastated because they had not lost a match yet. Our seniors were a little more philosophical because they had lost before, but it was very stunning. Our sophomores were very upset and we tried to console them by telling them that it was early February and not May 19. We were a little banged up then, but knew we would gain experience and be there when it counted at the end."

"This has just been an incredible season from start to finish. We had the one blemish early on (4-3 loss to Georgia at the National Team Indoors) and that's one that we would have liked to take back. Since then we've been able to get more experience and really come together as a team. I think being able to play at home was helpful; we received some great doubles play today and were equally solid in singles. Overall, just a tremendous victory for our team."

"I think we did a great job of working together as a team all season. Everyone addressed certain things in their game that they had to work on for us to be at this level as a team. When the season was rolling along well we continued to set goals such as winning the Pac-10 championship and winning in the postseason. Knowing that we were going to be hosting, we really wanted to play well up until the end."

"I wouldn't say that you can't win the match without taking the doubles point, but I think it's just more of a momentum thing. It's definitely not critical. However, it makes it easier knowing you've got the lead and all you have to do is split singles."

Stanford senior Lauren Kalvaria ---

"It's make-or-break at that point. Having to come back after losing the doubles point is really tough. If you go down in the first set of singles, you're really at a disadvantage. Our team really feeds off winning the doubles point."

"It can be difficult because the scoreboard is right there in front of you. Every once in a while your eyes will look up and catch something. You really just have to focus on your match and win your match. Once you begin to focus on how the team is doing or looking at other spots in the lineup, it starts to get a little hairy."

"I don't know how much it played a role. They are our home courts so we're really familiar with them. Florida has had to play in 100-degree weather in the past couple weeks, so today might have been an adjustment for them."

"This is a very emotional moment for me. It was the last team match and to end it here on our home court is just awesome. Being able to win it in front of my family and friends, and all the people who have been supporting me over the last four years, is really special."

Stanford freshman Erin Burdette ---

"When I saw the girls on the team coming onto the court I knew we had finally done it. I feel like all the hard work our team has put in this year has finally paid off. It's just great for all the girls who have been able to come together as a team."

"Dedication, because our team has worked so hard together and we get along so well. We've been led by our three seniors all season and they did it again today. When things wouldn't be going our way, the seniors and coaching staff kept us motivated and focused on our goal."

Florida Head Coach Roland Thornqvist ---

"I want to congratulate Stanford because they played an unbelievable match. But I am so proud of our team for the way our players fought back."

"That's been a trademark of this team all year long. I thought we could have played better at the end of our doubles matches and I think our players took those thoughts with them to start their singles matches. This was such a close match. I think if we could take two points in doubles, we would have won the doubles point and that would have made a huge difference. We probably would have started off in singles a bit stronger."

"It's more of a daunting task to play Stanford on their home court knowing that we had to win four singles matches instead of three. They just played really well at the end."