Editor’s note: With the spring tennis season underway, Kansan sportswriter Rahul Sharma will preview every team in the Big 12 Conference this week. This is part one of the four-part series.

Baylor

Coming off a fourth-place Big 12 Conference finish in the 2004 season, the Baylor Bears continue to make strides.

Third-year coach Joey Scrivano led Baylor to its first ever Big 12 regular season championship in 2003. The team’s goals remain the same.

“Our goals have been the same since day one,” Scrivano says. “And that’s to be the best program in the country.”

Baylor sophomore Carolin Walter is an all-conference performer in both the singles and doubles competitions. She is coming off an exceptional fall season, posting a 6-2 record in singles.

“Last season, Carolin was the best player we had in our program,” Scrivano said. “Her game is built around the serve.”

Scrivano said he intended to expand Walter’s versatility.

Sophomore Zuzana Cerna reached the quarterfinals of the Intercollegiate Tennis Association’s Southwest Regionals and won the doubles bracket alongside junior Daniela Covello.

“Cerna is one of the more talented players,” Scrivano said. “She has improved a lot and could emerge as the top player for us.”

One name to look out for is freshman Zuzana Zemenova. Scrivano said Zemenova was the most athletic player he had ever coached.

Because of a lack of seniors, Scrivano said he believed the Bears’ success would depend on his players’ mental maturity.

“I feel we have the athletes in place, but our attitude is going to determine how far we go,” he said.

The Bears will be strong contenders for the Big 12 title come April.

Colorado

The Colorado Buffaloes have established themselves as a consistent program. Since coach Nicole Kenneally’s arrival in 2001, the Buffaloes have progressively improved, finishing fifth in the conference last year.

Sophomore Lynzee Kever enters her second season, having posted a successful freshman stint in 2004. The Oklahoma native competed at the top of the Buffaloes’ lineup and captured first team all-Big 12 honors. She also was named the 2004 ITA Central Region Rookie of the Year. Kever registered 12 victories in the singles competition as a freshman and also contributed in the doubles.

With 54 career singles victories at Colorado, senior Kendra Strandemo posted a 9-3 mark in singles in 2004 conference play. Strandemo, alongside her doubles partner, junior Jessica Vanderdys, began the 2005 campaign ranked 52nd in the latest ITA Division I rankings.

Sophomore Martina Sedivec hopes to build off last season’s momentum. The Canada native won five of her last six matches to close out the 2004 campaign.

Junior Jenny Hanson continues to show signs of improvement.

Three freshmen — Allison Quinn, Veera Nurmi and Brooke Stern — will be competing for extended playtime for Colorado. The lineup has a lot of balance to challenge the top programs in the conference.

Missouri

Once at the depths of the Big 12, the Missouri Tigers have become a steady mid-level force.

Under coach Blake Starkey, the Tigers have gained the status of a respectable program over the last two seasons. In 2004, Missouri finished sixth in the conference with a 14-9 regular season record. Starkey, who began his tenure in 1997, is a simple coach who understands the process in the development of his players. As a husband and father of two young children, Starkey possesses many perspectives on life and attributed his success to his family.

“I see things differently,” Starkey said. “I want my players feeling comfortable. I want to be a coach that my own daughter feels comfortable with.”

Senior Katka Sevcikova, a two-time all-conference player, is a solid competitor who is coming off a productive fall season, Starkey said.

“She is a very gifted athlete,” he said.

Sevcikova has the all-court game and is at her best when she attacks the net.

Senior Mary Barry really developed her game last year. If healthy, Barry is projected to be at the number three slot in singles.

Senior Carolyn Kramer, a Virginia Tech transfer, is another athletic talent who should contribute in 2005.

Junior Hana Kraftova is trying to overcome a poor Fall season. She is a solid baseliner and her toughest critic, Starkey said.

For Starkey, getting beaten is acceptable; losing is not.

“I don’t expect my team to lose,” he said. “If we focus on putting ourselves in position to win, then the wins will take care of themselves.”