<p>When the No. 15 UCLA women?s tennis team splits up this weekend to compete in tournament play, several individuals will have to go beyond expectations to show why they should be a part of the singles lineup in dual matches. <br/>The struggle is not limited to making the singles lineup on the Bruin squad but expands into the women?s tennis world as a whole. <br/>Team competition looks to be competitive, as several teams have improved and added to their already talented lineups. <br/>The Pac-10 itself has five teams ranked in the top 25, and three others within the next 50 spots, making it one of the premier conferences in the nation. <br/>?Every team is so close,? junior Elizabeth Lumpkin said. ?As great as it is to have a close match, it?s even better to win that match.? <br/>This year, the Bruins think they are capable of doing just that, even though they have had struggles in the past. <br/>The Bruins of last season are now a year older and are returning an almost identical squad, with the exception of the loss of captain and then-senior Laura Gordon. <br/>In addition, UCLA will have the ability to shuffle players, allowing some to provide the squad with an additional boost from the sidelines. <br/>This year, however, the Bruins have added four freshmen: Yasmin Schnack, Stephanie Wetmore, and walk-ons Becky Duesler and Sarah Yang. <br/>Schnack has already shown why she can be considered by the Bruins as a valuable asset, performing well in the fall and earning the No. 28 ranking prior to the onset of the dual match season, the highest of any current Bruin. <br/>?I had a great fall and I was really happy with how I did,? Schnack said. ?Hopefully that will carry over into the winter and spring.? <br/>Adding to the freshman talent is that of the returning Bruins who now have at least a season?s worth of experience under their belts. <br/>Senior Alex McGoodwin, juniors Riza Zalameda and Tracy Lin, and sophomore Ashley Joelson look to keep contributing as valuable members of the Bruin squad. <br/>Zalameda, Lin and Joelson are all ranked in the top 75 alongside Schnack, and McGoodwin looks to continue her impressive dual match play while also taking on a new role. <br/>?Being the only senior, I guess I?m trying to take more of a leadership role because we have a lot of freshmen on the team,? McGoodwin said. ?I?m looking to play more aggressive and win all of my singles matches.? <br/>But the veterans? experience goes beyond just match play and will prove valuable in assisting coach Stella Sampras Webster. <br/>?With us having a lot of people who are older who are returning, it helps give everyone a better idea of where we should be before the season and at the end of the season,? Lumpkin said. <br/>Whether they get off to the right start will be a big determining factor of how the Bruins will fare this season, as they get set to start dual matches in just a little more than a week, taking on Hawai?i at the Los Angeles Tennis Center. <br/>But for now, there is a greater task at hand for some of the Bruins as they attempt to play well this weekend and prove their worth to Sampras Webster in hopes of moving up the lineup and, in the long-run, propelling the Bruins further than they have gone in the last few years. <br/>?This year we?re looking to actually come through and win the matches we know we can win,? Lumpkin said. ?We?re all ready to take advantage of some opportunities.?</p><br><br><a href='; target='_blank'>;