Kansas Tennis Hosts Baylor, Texas Tech in Final Home Weekend
March 23, 2012
LAWRENCE, Kan.—After a break from Big 12 play in Las Vegas last weekend, the University of Kansas Jayhawks look to get their first conference win this weekend. KU (9-5 overall, 0-2 Big 12) play host at the Jayhawk Tennis Center to No. 13 Baylor (13-5 overall, 0-1 Big 12) on Saturday at 11 a.m., and No. 18 Texas Tech (11-3 overall, 1-0 Big 12) on Sunday at noon.
Last Time Out
The Jayhawks finished up their weekend in Las Vegas with a 6-1 victory over Bowling Green. KU won at No. 2 and No. 3 doubles to take the first point of the day. Freshman Maria Belen Ludueña and sophomore Paulina Los took down BGSU’s Mary Hill and Nikki Chiricosta, 8-4 at No. 2. Sophomore Claire Dreyer and junior Victoria Khanevskaya won 8-6 against Jessica Easdale and Katie Grub at the No. 3 spot.
In singles play, Kansas ensnared victories at positions 1 through 5 to seal the win. Ludueña, a newcomer from Curico, Chile, quickly downed Emily Reuland at No. 3, 6-2, 6-2. Junior Monica Pezzotti, Los and Dreyer also had two-set wins at the first, second and fifth positions, respectively. Sophomore Dylan Windom came from one set down to defeat Hill at No. 4, 5-7, 6-2, 6-2.
Scouting the Opponents
Baylor is coming off a home win against No. 22 Clemson, 4-3, the team’s ninth-consecutive top-25 opponent. BU battled from three points down, including a doubles point loss, to secure the win.
The Bears has three ranked singles players, competing at the first through third spots. No. 13 Diana Nakic plays at the top singles spot and is 9-6 overall against ranked opponents. Nina Secerbegovic comes in ranked 27th in that nation and is 15-2 in singles play. 53rd-ranked Sona Novakova earned her sixth victory this season over a ranked opponent against Clemson, making her 15-2 overall this spring.
Texas Tech is coming off a 12-day break from match play. Last time out, the Red Raiders dropped a 4-3 decision to No. 21 Notre Dame in Honolulu, Hawai’i. The Tech duo of Samantha Adams and Kenna Kilgo, ranked 47th nationally, knocked off the country’s No.2 doubles team of Kristy Frilling and Shannon Mathews, 9-7. Adams and Kilgo improved to 16-6 on the season and 5-3 against ranked teams
Up Next
Following this weekend, the Jayhawks head back on the road next weekend to begin a five-match road swing. KU will face Texas on Friday, March 30 in Austin, Texas, with a time to be determined, and Texas A&M on Sunday, April 1, in College Station, Texas, at 1 p.m.
