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Rodriquez a -By DOUG AUBE gr io Staff Writer or USC women's tennis coach Arlo '3 Elkins has put together a team in with a strong international flavor. $ix of the eight players on Elkins' cc roster hail from foreign countries. th This rainbow unit is presently bi Tanked 14th in the nation and re- (c " . cently won the Metro Conference pi _i 1_;_ ITP/11. r:r.L m cnampioiisiup, ujv, 5 mui 111 ma * * " years. th One player that epitomizes the he flavor of USC's team is sophomore Nathalie Rodriquez from cc "Paris. ad Rodriquez came to USC ranked in the top thirty among French wo- ne hien. She participated in the 1989 in ?French Open mixed doubles event sh and played in the Federation Cup nc -Jtwo years for Chile. She has in flayed all of the major interna- ar ^fional junior tournaments and held 55^ Top 10 junior world ranking in pi ?*987. he 2* Last weekend, she captured the fa number one flight singles champ, ionship in the Metro Tournament. lej Her success at USC can be ar Columnist lat As the beginning of summer ap- ? proaches, the last thing most people want to hear about is a major league baseball team mired in last place, 10-and-a-half games out _ only 15 games into the season. So, when I decided to dedicate this semester's last Pep Talk to the Atlanta Braves, I knew I'd catch nc some flak. But I am an eternal optimist, ha Jnd if I can help gain the Braves a so f: few more fans and thus put more ne fannies in the seats at Atlanta Fulton County Stadium, which could Pr ? in turn provide enough excitement ' to get the players a bit more enthu- Bi | siastic and Finally help the Braves su ; win a few more games and maybe nu -j even the division . . . well, I did t>c % say I was an eternal optimist. Br Hope springs eternal at the be- so | ginning of every season but this 1 optimism usually fades when the lei fdsfef^l0' games1 before atfy- th< one else in the Major League. After a 1-1 start this season, I ca< V. 7 I thought that maybe, just maybe, tei the Braves could actually deserve a go : -.it ??WWW?????? ii Hp? K.-SriVZTTTT1 f w* * \ . v^r. 135m mil Ij [IT IT I kiVIKl1 Thank you for giving. ? GIVEE I i i im Mil ? i ? ? m m l I I IIJ I I H I (nl r ::HHI djusts in fir eatly attributed to her experience i 1 the international level, but this ] :perience also created a weakness i her style of play. I "Her junior and international re>rds were very good, and I knew 1 at she would play well for us, ; it she grew up (playing) on clay < ourts) so she was a baseline ayer," Elkins said. "She is now 1 aking that adjustment to come to j e net more, and that has helped ( >r. I Rodriquez has become a more i unplete player now that she has Ided net play to her arsenal. ( "We have been working on my a :t game, and it has helped me to 1 lprove my serve and my volley," C ie said. "I go to the net more I >w, and it is a big goal for me to r lprove my net play. The points c e faster, so I don't get as tired." Rodriquez was not eligible to I ay last season, and the break t lped her to adjust and get ready i r college tennis. "The level of play (on the col- p ge circuit) is more intense, there c e some very good players," Rod- a nents Braves DOUG AUBE i , Pep Talk 1 3 i , ite of optimism. 1 Rut 1 uampc lntp.r thp RravM ^ d faltered to a 2-13 record and emed to be living up to the "bad 5 ws Braves" image. I still think that they have a 1 etty good team. A number of bad trades, the ( ett Butler for Len Barker deal ( inds out, and the lack of conti- ity from one season to the next 1 >th have contributed to the aves averaging 96 losses a sea- ( n over the last four years. i If you add to that a weak minor ( igue farm system, it seems that sre is no hope. I But as the Braves enter the de- < de of the '90's, their farm sys- 1 n is starting to develop some i od players, and the new faces on ( I A /-?-^> /-J ^ -* L Again anu again. ILOOD, PLEASE R?dCro?? ?IMi r mm\ st season riguez said. "I played a lot of good players on the junior and international level, but the top ten here have provided tough competition. "The time off helped me to get used to the program and do well. It ilso helped me to learn English," she said. Rodriquez is currently the 34th anked player in the country after lumping ten notches with a win iver the number two ranked flayer, Andrea Farley of the University of Florida. She also has picked up wins )ver Emilie Viqueira of the University of California, Shawn vlcCarthy of the University of 3eorgia and Cinda Gurney of the Jniversity of North Carolina ? all anked in the top 50 in the :ountry. Her 6-3, 6-3 victory over Buffy Jaker of Florida State gained her he No. 1 singles Metro Champonship as well as MVP honors. Rodriquez has compiled an imwessive 34-16 career singles re:ord at USC, including 10 wins in i row. Nevertheless, she tries not ' past, looks , the "major league team" (notice low major league is in quotes) ] should help halt the 100-loss 1 seasons. Over the last two seasons, the Braves have gone with a youth movement in their starting rotation 1 ind benefits will be reaped. Well, ( me day. The payoff of this patience has itarted to show itself this season as he starting rotation of Tom "Terific" Glavine, "Pistol" Pete Smith, ' fohn "Smoking" Smoltz, Marty ' Diary and Derek Lilliquist have combined to form one of the best ^oung starting staffs in the Na- j ional League. Sure, the Braves' team ERA is 3.29 and last in the league, but the elief pitching hasn't gotten anyone out this season. Reliever Mike Stanton was supposed to be the big closer, but has :een his ERA balloon to 16.71 and ast in league among all pitchers vith three or more decisions, he is )-3. Osc A UN1VEE fV> BOOKS! RUSSELL} ATTE1S nnnriiTr* t nnn ojrruiVLr l&znj Your Graduation Supplies, University Bookstor Caps and Gowns Hoods - Master's, Ph. [ Announcements Invitations All items ava now until Gradu <1 CONGRATULATIOl YOUR EDUCATIONAL Ri WP 9 I SUNGLASSES BY BAUSCH & LOMB The world's finest sunalasses SALE Large Metal I Reg Large Metal II Reg Outdoorsman I Reg Outdoorsman II Reg Wayfarer Reg All Other Rayban! *Only G-15 Lens-no SUNGLASSES 5 Pts. Next to Groucho's 256-3507 Folline Vision Center B< S.C. largest Ray-B Nathalie Rodriquez to be overconfident. "I have not lost any in my last ten matches, but the more you play, the more chances you have to win," she said. She has made the quarter-finals in four tournaments, the semifinals twice and the finals once. She also teams with nationally ranked Michelle Duda to form the See Rodriquez page 13 to future Stanton was recently lost for at least fifteen days with an inflammation of his shoulder. Thank goodness for the disabled list. If you add to the starting rota[ion Charlie Leibrant, who will :ontribute if he can heal his rotator :uff injury, than you have a very formidable battery. The definite weak spot is relief pitching but since this is an optimistic look at the Braves, I'll avoid that topic. If (what a big word) first baseman Nick Esasky can recover from an early season injury soon, then his bat should help the Braves im prove on their 2.9 average runs per game. He had 30 homeruns and 108 RBIs last season for the Boston Red Sox. Other newcomers Jim Presley and-Ernie Whitt should help to relieve some of the pressure off Dale See Pep Talk page 13 LSITY rf\r\ [OREj HOUSE /X 1 moN GRADUATES Are In Stock Now At The e - Russell House 3>., Professional ilable from ation morning! VS, SENIORS! ESOURCE CENTER 4 SUNGLASSES I. 6495 $44M* I. 6895 $4836* 7495 ?com* . 7495 $5655* . 59^ $4160* Styles 30% off other discounts. 5 & THINGS Outlet Pointe Mall 772-9798 Dozer Shopping Center an Distributor SPORTS B Stoddart, Wyont shine at Invitational Nigel Stoddart and Shannon Wyont paced the USC men's and women's track, and field teams at the Gamecock Invitational held Saturday at Weems Baskin Track. Stoddart won the 100-meter dash with a time of 10.33 and the 200-meter dash with a time of 21.0 as well as anchoring the last leg of USC's 4 x 100 relay teatn that won their event. Wyont won the 3,000-meter run with a time of 10:05.2 and placed second in the 400-meter dash with a time of 58.73. Other standout performances for the men's team were turned in by: Robert Brooks, first in the 110-hurdles (14.04); David Arnold, first in the 400-intermediate hurdles; Eddie Miller, first in the 400-meter dash (48.30); Rickey Kearns, 800-meter winner with a time of 1:53.78; Mike Hedgecock, first in the 3,000-meter steeplechase (9:19.9); Art Henson, first in the high jump (6-10); and Darren Davis, first in the pole vault (16-0). For the Lady Gamecocks, Dana Purser won the 1,500-meter run with a time of 4:42.72 and finished second in the 3,000-meter run with a time of 10:05.9. Danielle Adams won the high jump with a leap of 4-feet-6-inches while placing third in the 800-meter run with a time of 2:23.26. Alexis Fife placed second in the 800-meter run with a time of 2:21.24 while Sue McGhie finished third in the 3,000-meter run with a time 10:31.8. USC overpowers Tigers in 7-1 win The USC baseball team defeated Memphis State 7-1 Sunday at Buring Stadium in Memphis in the first game of a doubleheader. The Gamecocks got off to an early 6-0 lead, including two tworun homers in the first two innings. Dave Willman, who was 2-of-3 in game one, cracked the first twof&fiK gives yoi specialty pra LIctiiciiuwu^ jjai head and admin the practice yoi as an Air Force < great pay & ben equipped faciliti skilled technicia vacation with p< cialize in Air For learn if you qual SGTJON 5 STATION-TO-ST 404-7: We Re. To V W1 You When you want exciting temporar pay, great benefit bonuses, call ready to work whe Lie per We Help Business 798-] U.S. Personnel, Inc. 2000 Center Point Drive Suite 2210 P.O. Box 210518 Columbia, S.C. 29221-0518 RIEF&iii run shot in the first inning, while Sandy Rickett belted the other in inning two. Winning the game on the mound for USC was Brian Williams, with Brian Beatson coming in after the sixth inning to get the save. Next action for the Gamecocks is Saturday as the Clemson Tigers come to Sarge Frye Field for a two-game series. USC claws Tigers 5-1 in mens' tennis The USC tennis team, ranked eighth nationally, defeated Clemson 5-1 on Saturday in Clemson. The victory was USC's first at Clemson since 1976. Stephane Simian, also ranked eighth in the nation, took care of Owen Casey 6-2, 6-2 to get the Gamecocks started. Simian is now 48-10 in singles competition. Louie Gloria, USC's No. 2 player was defeated by the Tigers' Nicklas Johansson 7-6, 6-4 for Clemson's only win. Dave Hopper won over Greg Seilkop 6-4, 6-3; Mark Palus defeated Todd Watkins 4-6, 7-5, 6-3, and Eric Sydow rolled over J. L. Guillou 6-1, 6-4. USC improves to 17-8 and takes on Princeton today at the Sam Daniel Tennis Center at 1 p.m. Clemson falls to 16-18. Bowling team one strike from title The USC bowling team finished second over the weekend at the national college team championships. Jerry Home, who averaged 212 in the double-elimination tournament, led the Gamecocks to the championship round against Northem Illinois. The three-game championship was led by USC 527-470 going into the final match but lost after the Huskies outscored them 240-176 in the third and final game The final score was 719-703. Other Gamecock averages were Neil Makison (199), John Lee (199), Tim Rice (195) and Andy Zook (190). DENTAL SPECIALISTS. ay's Air Force u a challenging ctice...without the n of office overistration. Enjoy l've always wanted officer ? with efits, wellies, the support of ins and 30 days ly per year. Spece dentistry. To lify, call JTUBITSCH ATION COLLECT 22-3536 1 j're idy Vork len Are challenging and i, y wuiin. wiui mgii s, and wonderful Because we're n you are. sonne/ R A R Y SERVICES ? and People Work. L700 ! ?U.S. Personnel, Inc. 1988