KU to Take on Illinois, Saint Louis in Home Opener

Feb. 8, 2008

<?xml:namespace prefix=”st1″ ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags”?>LAWRENCE, Kan. – Coming off competitive performances in losses to two nationally ranked opponents last weekend, the University of Kansas tennis team will play its first home matches of the season on Sunday against Illinois and Saint Louis.<?xml:namespace prefix=”o” ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office”?>

The Jayhawks will face the Fighting Illini at 10 a.m. and will then play the Billikens at 3 p.m. Both duals will be played at First Serve.

Despite going 0-2 on its first road trip of the season, KU showed several positive signs in contests at No. 40 Arkansas and No. 44 Tulsa. Against the Lady Razorbacks, the Jayhawks’ No. 1 doubles tandem of Elizaveta Avdeeva and Edina Horvath wasted no time in picking up a statement win as they defeated AU’s 45th-ranked duo of Maryori Franco and Nanar Airapetian, 8-6. The pair also won its match against Tulsa.

Also playing well for Kansas was freshman Magdalena Tokarczyk, who, by going 2-0 against Arkansas and Tulsa, improved her singles record to a perfect 5-0 this spring. Horvath also won both of her singles contests.

Illinois enters the match with a record of 2-5 — including three straight losses. The Illini, who return five letterwinners from last season’s squad, haven’t played KU since 1992, and the Jayhawks leading the all-time series, 4-0.

The Billikens are currently 0-1 and have not played since Jan. 30 due to postponements of matches against Bradley and IPFW. Before traveling to Lawrence on Sunday, SLU will face KansasState on Saturday in Manhattan.

For complete results following each match, check back with www.kuathletics.com.