Tennis To Host Sunflower Showdown
April 12, 2005
Lawrence, Kan. – The University of Kansas tennis team will host the No. 65 Kansas State Wildcats Wednesday in Lawrence, Kan., at Robinson Courts. The match is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m.
KU enters the match looking to break a four-match losing streak as the team is 4-13 overall and 3-5 in Big 12 play. Kansas State is 7-7 overall and 2-4 in Big 12 matches.
The Jayhawks are 47-5 all-time against the `Cats and 16-2 when playing in Lawrence. Last season KU edged the Wildcats, 5-2, in Manhattan, Kan.
KU will be led by freshman Elizaveta Avdeeva at the No. 1 position. Avdeeva is 4-4 in Big 12 matches and 6-10 overall. Junior Christine Skoda leads the team in Big 12 victories with her 6-2 mark at the No. 2 position. Skoda is 7-10 this spring.
Freshman Stephanie Smith has continued her strong initial season as a Jayhawk as she is riding a three-match winning streak and is 7-8 this spring with a 5-3 mark in Big 12 matches playing No. 6 singles.
Following the matchup against Kansas State, the Jayhawks will host Colorado on April 16 at 11 a.m.
Kansas Notes
– The road team has won the last four Sunflower Showdown matches dating back to 2001.
– Junior Christine Skoda was named Big 12 Player of the Week for the week of March 14-20.Skoda is 6-2 in Big 12 singles matches.
– Freshman Elizaveta Avdeeva is 6-10 on the season and 4-4 in Big 12 matches playing at the No. 1 position.
– The Jayhawks are 21-27 in Big 12 singles matches.
– Last season, KU defeated K-State in Manhattan, Kan., 5-2.
– The Jayhawks are 18-14 in three-set or tiebreaker matches.
– Freshman Stephanie Smith leads the team in singles with a 12-12 record in the combined fall and spring season. Smith is 5-3 in Big 12 matches and is currently on a three-match winning streak.
Player Information
Elizaveta Avdeeva: Joined the team just two weeks before the spring season of play began… Avdeeva is 1-5 against ranked opponents… Notched her first collegiate victory over Yale’s Rashmee Patil, 7-5, 3-6, 6-3 on Feb. 19… Has taken over the No. 1 singles position after going 2-0 at No. 2. Is currently 6-10 on the season and 4-3 in Big 12 matches… Currently plays No. 3 doubles with Brown.
Brittany Brown: Is 3-15 in singles on the season and 3-14 this spring as she has stepped into the role of No. 3 singles… Earned her first victory of the season over Yale’s Christine Alford on Feb. 19… Is 3-6 in No. 1 doubles with Lauren Hommell… Currently plays No. 2 doubles with Avdeeva.
Ashley Filberth: Is 4-16 in singles competition and 3-13 this spring… Teamed with Skoda to go 5-6 in doubles competition… Earned the team’s only point over Mississippi with a tiebreak victory over Carlin Cochran, 6-1, 3-6, 1-0 (5)… Currently plays No. 3 doubles with Loureiro.
Lauren Hommell: Is 6-20 in singles and 3-14 this spring… Notched a 3-0 singles record at the Hurricane Invitational to begin the fall season… Downed SMS’s Paty Manzur in straight sets to earn her first collegiate victory on Sept. 24, 2004… Currently teams with Skoda in No. 1 doubles… Earned a match-clinching, three-set victory over Oklahoma State’s Jessica Collins, 6-3, 2-6, 6-3.
Anna Jackson: Saw her first action of the spring season on Feb. 19 and earned her first collegiate victory over Yale’s Olivia Nix, 6-2, 1-6, 1-0 (5)… Is 2-2 in singles competition.
Luiza Loureiro: Is 3-7 on the the season… Is 1-1 on the spring season playing both at No. 5 and No. 6… Is 4-5 in No. 3 doubles teamed with Avdeeva… Currently plays No. 3 doubles with Avdeeva.
Christine Skoda: Owns an 8-18 record in singles on the season and 7-10 in the spring… Holds a 6-2 record in Big 12 play… Is 5-6 in doubles competition teamed with Filberth… Has spent time this season playing both No. 1 and No. 2 singles… Named Big 12 Player of the Week for March 14-20 with her 2-0 singles record for the weekend… Teams with Hommell at No. 1 doubles.
Stephanie Smith: Is currently 11-12 on the season… Earned a 3-0 record to start the fall season… Picked up first collegiate victory against SMS’s Mali Gakovic… Earned a match-clinching victory over Emilie Sechaud of Illinois State on Jan. 22, 6-7 (4), 6-4, 6-3… Defeated Oklahoma’s Chelsea Orr, 7-5, 4-6, 7-5, to clinch the match for the Jayhawks… Is 5-3 in Big 12 singles matches.
