Colaizzi, Zaricki Household Names at Loyola

One is a veteran, because sophomores are veterans for the purpose of our story, a classic baseline player who often lulls her counterparts into beating themselves. The other is a net-charging neophyte who admittedly enjoys intimidating her opponents.

Together, sophomore Anna Zaricki and freshman Mara Colaizzi are leading the Loyola Marymount women’s tennis program to one of its greatest seasons. The Lions are benefiting greatly from the skills Zaricki and Colaizzi developed at Dana Hills and Newport Harbor.

Not surprisingly, Coach Jamie Sanchez is quite a happy fellow.

“We only have three experienced players in the lineup, and Anna is one of them,” Sanchez said. “She stepped up into one of the top positions and has been competitive against everyone we’ve played, which is exactly what we needed.

“I knew that Mara would make an immediate impact on the team, but I just didn’t know how much of an impact.”

Zaricki and Colaizzi have alternated between Nos. 1 and 2 singles. Currently, Zaricki occupies the No. 1 spot.

She is 25-8 in singles competition and 16-8 in doubles. Colaizzi is 27-5 and 18-9.

Loyola is 19-7, 2-0 in the West Coast Conference after defeating Long Beach State, 8-1, in a nonconference match Wednesday. The program achieved its best record in 1987, finishing 22-12. The Lions have three regular-season WCC matches remaining before playing in the conference championship tournament, April 27-30 at San Diego.

Like Colaizzi, Zaricki is in her first season at Loyola. She attended Hawaii last year and had a record of 16-12. A touch of homesickness prompted her return to the Southland, and she couldn’t be more pleased with her decision.

“I’m a lot happier,” she said. “I’m getting a little more coaching support than at Hawaii . . . enough to make a real difference.”

Zaricki’s smooth transition is a key for the Lions because she is one of the few players with collegiate know-how. How key? Consider: Six of the team’s 10 players are freshmen.

“I knew I was going to help the team out this season, I just didn’t know where I would be (seeded),” she said. “I’m very pleased with the way I’ve been playing, and I feel great knowing that I’m such a major contributor.”

Poise and intelligence are among Zaricki’s attributes, Sanchez said.

“She is an aggressive backcourt player,” the coach said, “and she has a very strong forehand.”

Colaizzi also likes to initiate the action--but at the net.

“The style she plays is a very aggressive style,” Sanchez said. “She comes to the net, and that’s the highest risk. The risk you’re taking is that it can go either way, but Mara has done very well.”

OK, but doesn’t that style cause coaches some nervous moments?

“Ah, well . . .,” Sanchez said, followed by a chuckle. “I like all my players to be aggressive.”

Besides, Colaizzi couldn’t do it differently if she tried.

“I’m a really competitive person, and I love playing under pressure,” said Colaizzi, 19. “I love to serve and volley.

“I want to make something happen rather than wait for it to happen. I serve and volley every point, and I’ve never played anyone who serves and volleys. I think I catch a lot of people off guard.”

Despite their accomplishment, Colaizzi and Zaricki are not ranked nationally by the Intercollegiate Tennis Assn. The next rankings will be released April 18, and Sanchez has his fingers crossed.

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Regaining form: USC freshman Derek Baker, among the nation’s elite prep baseball players while at Tustin High, is rebounding from a shoulder injury.

Baker, listed as the country’s 41st-best college prospect by Baseball America last season, is batting .271 with three home runs and 12 runs batted in.

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Monarch gone East: Patty Godwin, a pitcher/designated hitter at Lehigh, is having a fine freshman season. The former Mater Dei High standout is 5-1 with a 1.17 earned-run average. She’s also batting .443.