After experiencing a season that was nothing short of disappointing, the Lady Colonels tennis team is trying not to let history repeat itself.Since head coach Dominic Modise and assistant coach David Butler replaced former coach Jodi Robinson, the two have taken steps to improve a team that finished the season with a 2-15 overall record and a winless conference season.

The team had a set-back when they received word that Modise, who went back to his native South Africa for the Christmas holidays and to recruit, was told that he would have to stay there for an extended period of time. The delay in his return was because he had not visited his country for a long time, according to sports information director Robert Galinsky.

“They told Dominic, due to the fact that he hasn’t been home in so long, being an employee in the United States, that they have to do a background check on his Visa to make sure everything is clear,” Galinsky said.

“The fact that the embassy has so much volume going through it right now and for just the heightened security that’s going on overseas, it will take some time before everything can be cleared,” he said.

As to a time frame when Modise could return, Galinsky said that was for the embassy to determine. Unsure, he said that “it could be anywhere from now until next week.”

Galinsky said Modise was not in the United States illegally and that nothing was wrong with his Visa.

Since September, the team has been practicing and going through conditioning such as speed and agility drills, long distance running around campus and working out an hour every Monday, Wednesday and Friday morning to get themselves in shape, according to Butler.

Additionally, the two coaches have also tried to change the team’s mental game after the dismal season the team experienced a year ago. They believe mental attitude is the most important aspect of any tennis game.

“After last year’s record, Coach Modise and I have been trying our best to help these girls realize that they are really good players, and they have potential to become a really good team,” Butler said.

Butler also said the team members have bonded well in terms of supporting each other. He said there are no problems on the court, and if a problem arises, it is handled very professionally off the court.

Their bonding extends beyond practice as well. Butler said the players eat lunch together and also go bowling as a team.

Sophomore Veronika Ramirez also said the team has become closer because of their new coach.

“This year we’re all closer, and what helped us a lot was that we got a new coach, and he’s just really helped us get back into it and get positive again about playing tennis,” Ramirez said. “Hopefully when we start playing, it will be different.”

In terms of how the team has looked so far this season, Butler said it is promising. The only downfall is that the team will have to find a replacement for Monique Savoy, who will miss the season due to a wrist injury.

According to senior Jennifer Rodriguez, the replacement for Savoy will probably be a walk on, a situation that is not out of the ordinary for Rodriguez.

“The best our team ever did was my freshman year, so pretty much after that we’ve had problems having a whole team,” Rodriguez said. “We’ve had to find walk ons. Besides experience, that this is my third year having to go through that, any walk on or new player that we have, (I’ll try to) help them out.”

As far as who will be the top singles and doubles players, Butler said it is still too early to tell.

“It’s still really early to decide right now,” Butler said. “The number one singles is definitely going to be Veronika and doubles might be Veronika and (sophomore) Jordan (Vaccarella). I’m not entirely sure. It could be anyone else.”

Butler said the next few weeks will be used to determine who will hold down what spots on the team.

The Lady Colonels will begin the 2005 season on Feb. 13 when they host Louisiana Tech.