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Lauren Fisher is ready to kick off the 2003-2004 season after missing the entire last season due

It’s been over a year since senior Lauren Fisher has played a match with the rest of the UCLA women’s tennis team.

After undergoing surgery last season to relieve pressure from a swollen tendon in her elbow, Fisher is ready to put her injury behind her.

Of course, it may take a few weeks.

“It’s going to take time for Lauren to get back to her past strength,” coach Stella Sampras Webster said. “Once she is competing again and getting used to it, she will just get better and better.”

Fisher’s injury has not only affected her game, but her attitude as well.

“When I first came here, I was just trying to win. I cared about results more than my actual performance,” Fisher said. “Now I want to do whatever makes me feel comfortable out there.”

In her first two seasons, Fisher earned All-American honors for her doubles play. She reached the quarterfinals at the NCAA Doubles Championships in 2001 and the finals the following year, amassing a 60-26 doubles record in those two seasons.

Following her injury in fall 2002, Fisher redshirted her junior season and spent every day in rehab.

“Not having her hurt us in doubles last season,” Sampras Webster said. “We had to figure out new doubles teams and other girls had to step up.”

Fisher started competing again this past fall. She maintained a 6-2 doubles record with sophomore Jackie Carleton, making it all the way to the finals at the ITA National Indoors and the semifinals at the Riviera ITA All-American tournament.

In January, Fisher competed in singles at the Pac-10 Indoor Championships in Seattle. She defeated teammate Laura Gordon in the semifinals, but then fell to sophomore Feriel Esseghir, 7-5, 6-3 in the final.

These positive signs have Sampras Webster optimistic about Fisher’s return.

After placing her at No. 4 singles in Seattle, Sampras Webster hopes to add to Fisher’s already successful doubles career with singles experience.

“She is the most aggressive player on our team,” Sampras Webster explained. “She has an all-court game and she’s our best player up at the net.”

Fisher’s take on playing singles instead of doubles?

“I like doubles because I’m more of a net player,” she said. “But I’m starting to have more of an appreciation for singles.”

“Lauren has been a part of some really good teams,” Sampras Webster said. “She has a great energy about her that will bring leadership to our young team.”

Fisher is the team captain this season and believes her role is to make the rest of her team feel more comfortable.

“We have a young team,” she said. “But everyone is mature and experienced with their play.”

This season Fisher hopes to help lead her team to an NCAA championship. Despite their past success, the Bruins have never won an NCAA title.

“Everyone sees us as the underdog just because we’re young, but that doesn’t mean anything.”

Although she is still overcoming the lingering effects of last year’s injury, Fisher is looking forward to the challenge of the upcoming season.

“You deal with it,” Fisher said. “But now I’m ready for an aggressive season.”