Kansas Tennis Kicks Off Dual Play Against Denver

Jan. 30, 2013

LAWRENCE, Kan. – After seven individual tournaments between September and January, the Kansas women’s tennis team is finally set for its spring slate of dual matches, beginning 3 p.m. Friday against Denver at Jayhawk Tennis Center.

The Jayhawks hold an all-time 1-2 record against the Pioneers of the Western Athletic Conference. Their last meeting came on Feb. 27, 2011, with Kansas pulling out a 5-2 victory at Jayhawk Tennis Center.

“I’m thrilled with how they’ve competed,” Kansas coach Amy Hall-Holt said of her team in individual play. “I’m thrilled with the energy. I’m just excited about us getting started.”

The Pioneers currently sit at 1-1 after already playing two dual matches in 2013—a 6-1 season-opening loss to No. 21 Texas Tech followed by a 7-0 victory over Louisiana-Lafayette. Denver went 12-11 a year ago, led by fourth-year head coach Jeremy Wurtzman.

All six of the Jayhawks’ starters return from last year’s team, which finished with an overall record of 9-13 (0-9 in the Big 12). Three newcomers, however, are expected to compete for playing time throughout the 2013 season—freshmen Maria Jose Cardona and Anastasija Trubica, as well as junior transfer Haley Fournier.

“Being able to mix and match different things and throw different people into the lineup really adds a spark to the chemistry on the team,” Hall-Holt said. “We’re just adding a lot of positive energy.”

The Jayhawks look to begin dual play in the same way as last year, when they won seven consecutive matches in February to cap the program’s best start since 1992. Kansas will follow its season opener with home dates against St. Louis on Feb. 3 and No. 24 Tulsa on Feb. 10 before heading to Charleston, S.C., to face Charleston Southern and College of Charleston Feb. 15-16.

Stay tuned to KUAthletics.com for live scoring updates on all home matches in 2013.

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