Several Jayhawks off to Strong Start at Hawaii Spring Invitational

Jan. 17, 2008

<?xml:namespace prefix=”st1″ ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags”?>HONOLULU, Hawaii — Three University of Kansas tennis players recorded singles wins on Wednesday — including the first-career victory for freshman Magdalena Tokarczyk — while two doubles tandems notched wins as well, highlighting KU’s showing at the first day of the Hawaii Spring Invitational. <?xml:namespace prefix=”o” ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office”?>

Leading Kansas was sophomore Kunigunda Dorn, who won her singles match against SacramentoState’s Lyssvenko, 6-4, 6-3, and also teamed with junior Yuliana Svistun in an 8-0 triumph over Hawaii’s doubles team of Sandern and Tianaka.

Also notching a doubles victory on Wednesday was senior Elizaveta Avdeeva and junior Edina Horvath, who defeated Alabama’s Goodwin and Szvensfon, 8-4. The tandem was KU’s best during the fall, leading the team with five wins.

In singles play, senior Stephanie Smith, who missed the entire fall season because of an ankle injury, looked strong in her debut, handling Hawaii’s Tianaka, 7-5, 7-5.

Tokarczyk, a highly-touted late signing who comes to Kansas from Poland, was impressive on the opening day of the event, posting a 4-6, 7-6, 7-6 win over SacramentoState’s Zalenzuvla. Tokarczyk also teamed with freshman Maria Martinez in doubles play, but the duo fell to FloridaState’s Marobela and Davidson, 8-3.

Two other Jayhawks made their KU debuts on Wednesday, as freshmen Kate Goff and Emily Gorham each fell in singles matches. Svistun, Horvath and Avdeeva were each defeated in their respective singles contests.

Check back with kuathletics.com for more results from the Invitational as they become available.