SAN DIEGO — Torero tennis greats both past and present gathered in Alcala Park last Saturday as the University of San Diego unveiled its new state-of-the-art facility, the Skip and Cindy Hogan Tennis Center and Lester T. Vesell Championship Courts. The venue features eight resurfaced courts, a scoreboard, grandstands with chairback seating, and the program's first-ever clubhouse, which includes a locker room, a lounge, and a study area. The facility also features an athletic training room to service both home and away teams, as well as infrastructure that will allow for live streaming of all home matches.
 
"These are special individuals and special families who believe in Coach Stephens and Coach Keckley…and who also want to honor the past, the foundation laid by the women and men who have coached and played tennis here," San Diego Associate Vice President/Executive Director of Athletics Bill McGillis said of the donors who made the $6.5 million venue possible. "They believe in our program, they believe in our university, and we're just grateful."
 
The ribbon cutting ceremony, which was followed by the dedication of all eight courts and the facility's scoreboard to Torero tennis benefactors, players, and coaches alike, featured picture-perfect weather and was highlighted by court one's dedication to head coach Sherri Stephens, who has led USD to 13 NCAA Tournament appearances as the longest-tenured women's coach in university history.
 
"It means the world to me," Stephens said during the dedication ceremony. "The support from everyone, I don't even know how to explain it."
 
Capping a banner day for San Diego tennis, the women's team broke in the new facility in style, taking down Fresno State by a 6-1 margin after the unveiling festivities as they continued their 2022 schedule.
 
GET TO KNOW THE FACILITY
 
Sherri Stephens Championship Court No. 1
Court No. 1 honors Sherri Stephens, who coached USD's women's tennis team for 38 years, making her the longest tenured women's coach in university history. A Phoenix, Arizona native, Stephens was a nationally ranked junior player, then played collegiately at the University of Arizona. At USD, Stephens led the Toreros to 13 NCAA Tournament appearances, a 2012 WCC championship and guided Zuzana Lesenarova to the 1999 NCAA singles title, the only national championship in USD history.
 
Nancy Ellen McNamee Court No. 2
Court No. 2 honors Nancy Ellen McNamee, the mother of former USD player Jim McNamee. With few tennis clubs in the Seattle area, McNamee drove her son three hours a day so that he could hone his forehand and backhand. She was a selfless woman whose three children always came first. McNamee symbolizes all the players in the USD program who were blessed with loving parents and families that supported the pursuit of their passion.
 
1987 USD Men's Team & McNamee Family Court No. 3
Court No. 3 honors the 1987 men's tennis team, the Toreros' first nationally ranked team in the Division I era. The 1987 team was ranked as high as 17th in the nation and upset No. 1 Stanford and No. 5 Pepperdine. The team was coached by Ed Collins and featured players Jim McNamee, Dave Stewart, Scott Partridge, Chris Smith, JR Edwards, Dan Mattera, Curtis Dadian, Rick Matheson, Mark Farren, Rob McKay and Pete Choi. The McNamee family designation honors Jackson and Carolina McNamee of Laguna Niguel, CA.
 
Ed Collins Court No. 4
Court No. 4 honors Ed Collins, a native San Diegan who served as USD's men's tennis coach from 1978 to 1996, steering the Toreros into the Division I era. USD was ranked in the Top 25 for 10 years under Collins. His record was 350-190. Collins' highest ranked team rose to 12th in the nation in 1990. That squad won the WCC title and was led by four-time All-American Jose Luis Noriega. Collins created his own academy and is credited with helping more than 25,000 players learn the game.
 
Gregg M. Tolton Court No. 5
Court No. 5 honors Gregg M. Tolton, a 1969 USD graduate who earned a B.A. of Arts and Sciences as a history major. Tolton was a USD scholar-athlete who adopted a philosophy that enabled him to succeed academically, athletically, professionally and throughout life. Tolton's tenet: "Always strive to do your best on and off the court."
 
Zuzana Lesenarova Court No. 6
Court No. 6 honors Zuzana Lesenarova. USD has competed in athletics since 1955 and Lesenarova is the only Torero to win a national championship. The Czechoslovakia native won the 1999 NCAA singles title, defeating Stanford's Marissa Irvin 4-6, 6-3, 7-6. A four-time All-American (1997-2000), Lesenarova won three legs of college tennis' grand slam in 1999. Lesenarova was known for her big serve, powerful groundstrokes and mental toughness. "You put Zuzana in a corner," coach Sherri Stephens said, "and she's going to come back 10 times harder."
 
Donald Daniels Court No. 7
Court No. 7 honors Donald Daniels, a 1979 USD graduate with a B.A. of Arts and Sciences as a history major. Dedicated to his love and passion for USD tennis, Daniels adopted a mantra that he lived his life by: "Faith, gratitude and determination." One of his favorite Bible verses was 2 Timothy 4:7 – "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith."
 
Tom Hagedorn Court No. 8
Court No. 8 honors Tom Hagedorn. Hagedorn coached the men's tennis program for 11 seasons beginning in 1996 with the Toreros compiling 10 winning seasons. Under Hagedorn's watch USD advanced to the NCAA Tournament four straight seasons (2003-2006). Hagedorn coached Pierrick Ysern, who in 2005 was the runner-up in the NCAA Division I singles final. Hagedorn's legacy extends far beyond the tennis courts and USD. He inspired the entire community before passing away in 2009 after a courageous battle with leukemia. He was 43.
 
Jack and Allyson McGrory Scoreboard
Jack and Allyson McGrory are a father/daughter team whose passion runs deep for the University of San Diego. Jack, having been a tennis and basketball scholar-athlete at Colgate University, a former Marine Corps Lieutenant stationed at Camp Pendleton, and a long-time executive at the City of San Diego, now is the CEO of La Jolla MJ Management, LLC, a real estate investment company. He also serves on multiple boards, including the Cal State University Board of Trustees. He has been an instrumental and an influential part of the growth of San Diego and is considered a philanthropist and change maker. Both he and Allyson each earned a degree in their respective fields, Jack a Law Degree and Allyson a degree in Business Administration from USD. Allyson also is in partnership with her father serving as the Chief Operating Office of La Jolla MJ Management, LLC and has followed in his philanthropic footsteps.
 
SEE THE TOREROS IN ACTION
Both the USD men's and women's tennis teams will be in action all season long at the Skip and Cindy Hogan Tennis Center and the Lester T. Vesell Championship Courts, and all home matches will be livestreamed on Track.Tennis via USDToreros.com. For schedule information, visit the links below.
 
USD MEN'S TENNIS SCHEDULE
USD WOMEN'S TENNIS SCHEDULE