Coach:
Dvornikova sisters left team ‘in the lurch’
By Kristen Force
On-line Forty-Niner
 The
Dvornikova sisters generated some unhappiness
with their decision to jump to the professional
tennis circuit instead of staying at Long
Beach State for a new season.
Citing the short notice given, women’s tennis
head coach Jenny Hilt said the Russian sisters
let the team down at the least minute.
“They really left us in the lurch,” Hilt
said. “It’s too late to recruit anyone else
and now we have two empty spots.”
After joining the team in the spring of
2001, Anastasia and Alena Dvornikova occupied
the first and third spots, respectively,
in singles and made up the No. 1 doubles
team.
Both girls were attending college in the
United States on tennis scholarships, but
decided to put their education on hold to
pursue a career on the professional tour.
The sisters signed their scholarship paperwork
in June to return to the team for the 2002-2003
school year, but changed their mind shortly
after, according to Hilt.
“Ten days after they signed the paperwork,
they sent me an e-mail to say they would
not be returning,” Hilt said. “I was on
vacation and they knew I wouldn’t get the
notice for awhile.”
Although the Dvornikovas were an asset to
the team, the remaining players are looking
forward to a successful year, according
to doubles player Kelly Chan.
“It might affect us a little [to play without
them],” Chan said. “But team dynamics will
be a lot better. That is just as important
as talent.”
While signing the contract to accept the
scholarship was an agreement, it is not
binding and can be broken at any time without
any repercussions from the University, Hilt
said.
“There is no penalty from the University
for breaking the contract,” Hilt said. “But
there was a personal commitment that should
not have been broken.”
It is not the decision to go professional
that has been upsetting to the team, but
the manner in which it was done, Chan explained.
“If they had been thinking about what to
do for awhile, then signing the contract
was a big step,” Chan said. “They didn’t
value that commitment as much as they should
have.
“Ethically, it is a good decision to honor
your coaches because they have done so much
for you,” Chan added.
Anastasia and Alena Dvornikova, who are
currently competing on tour with the International
Tennis Federation, declined to comment on
the statements made by Hilt.
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