NOTEBOOK: PAC-10 HAS DEPTH BUT FALLS SHORT OF SEC.

Byline: Lee Barnathan Staff Writer

MALIBU - The debate continues over which conference ranks as strongest in college women's tennis.

The Pacific-10 put five teams into Friday's quarterfinals, causing Florida coach Andy Brandi to declare: ``The Pac-10 right now has the upper hand. They've had tremendous years and they deserve to be called the best conference in the nation.''

Brandi made his comments early Friday. By the end of the day, Brandi's Southeastern Conference had placed two in today's semifinals.

Florida and Georgia, ranked second and third nationally, beat Arizona State and USC, and Cal lost to No. 4 Wake Forest.

Only No. 1 Stanford survived, beating UCLA. The consensus is the Pac-10 is deeper but not deep enough to knock off the SEC's top two.

``They're a semifinal (conference), and we're a quarterfinal (conference),'' USC's Jacqui Boyd said. ``I think the gap is narrowing.''

Several players offered opinions as to what the Pac-10 needs to do. They include being mentally tougher, playing more consistently and having depth. Florida and Georgia play in hot and humid conditions, and Stanford didn't miss anything with No. 3 singles Teryn Ashley out with back spasms.

``We have to be a little tougher a little longer,'' USC coach Richard Gallien said.

He was referring to his team. Yet except for Stanford, it applied to the others.

--Time varies: In the NCAAs, as USC can vouch, you often don't know when you'll play or when you'll finish.

At last year's tournament in Gainesville, Fla., the Trojans started at 8 p.m. and finished at 3:30 a.m. In Thursday's third round, they started at 8 a.m. and finished at 11. In Friday's quarterfinal against Georgia, they started at 11:50 a.m. - 50 minutes late - and finished at 2:18.

USC coach Richard Gallien didn't mind Thursday's early start because he knew the time was guaranteed (it was first) and the Trojans didn't have to wait around all day.

Singles player Jacqui Boyd had a different response.

``We're not used to it,'' Boyd said. ``That wake-up call at 5 a.m. was rough. But I suppose it's better. It's getting hot and we're done.''

--Volunteers: A number of Pepperdine players are volunteering around the tournament. This gives them a chance to hear what the participants say about them.

``All of my friends say, `It's bad for you, but we have a better chance now,' '' singles player Ipek Senoglu said. ``I take it as good. Not many teams could win the tournament, and we were one of them.''

< ``Were'' is the key word. Pepperdine, ranked seventh, is the highest- ranked noncompeting team. The Waves were ousted in last week's regional by No. 32 Louisiana State - the lowest-ranked team that participated. LSU lost to USC on Thursday.

--Scouting the best: The attendance over the first two days was sparse. Yet one local high school player and her teacher father played hooky to come watch.

Hart High of Newhall's Jenny Munroe and her father, Dave, Hart's girls' basketball coach, made the drive.

Jenny, a junior, wanted to see if she could play for one of the top programs. She played No. 1 singles at Hart her first two seasons but didn't last fall because it interfered with her junior-tournament schedule.

She has sent letters to several of the schools here, including Duke,Arizona State, Notre Dame, Texas, Northwestern and Cal.

Her verdict: ``They're too good. That's one reason I'm here to watch: It helps you decide if you can play at this level.''