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

Kansas

The 2005 Kansas Jayhawks women’s tennis program, once a force in the Big 12 Conference, is looking to return to the same level that won it conference championships in 1997 and 1998.

The team has changed since then, but second-year coach Amy Hall-Holt said she was excited about this year’s team.

“Even though we are a young team, I see a lot of potential in them to help us win a lot of matches and become a great team,” Hall-Holt said.

Hall-Holt served as an assistant with the team before picking up the coaching job.

Arguably the top player entering this season for Kansas, Skoda is an experienced player who is coming off a disappointing fall season.

“She knows she has a hard role to play of playing in the top position,” Hall-Holt said. “She knows she needs to step up and lead this team.”

Skoda will be looked upon to embrace the leadership role in 2005.

Junior Luiza Loureiro has vastly improved her level of fitness from a season ago, Hall-Holt said. The native of Brasilia, Brazil, who is one of only two juniors on the young roster, will have to contribute in both the singles and doubles.

Sophomores Brittany Brown and Ashley Filberth possess the understanding of what it takes to compete in a demanding conference such as the Big 12.

Four freshmen — Anna Jackson, Stephanie Smith, Lauren Hommell and Elizaveta Avdeeva — make up the bulk of the lineup. Lauren Hommell endured a competitive fall season, earning victories in her first three singles matches. Smith is a tough competitor who is consistently working her way up the lineup, Hall-Holt said. Jackson was limited because of an injury much of the fall season.

The new name to watch is Elizaveta Avdeeva. Hall-Holt said the Russian prospect was a very talented player.

“She is going to help us in a big way,” the coach said.

It will be important for the Jayhawks to stay consistent this season.

“Our goal for this season is to be more competitive in the Big 12,” Hall-Holt said. “We have tried to express to the players how important it is to compete for every point and give 110 percent in practice and match play.”

One name to keep in mind will be assistant coach Frank Polito. Hired as an assistant to Hall-Holt’s staff last July, Polito provides valuable experience as a coach. His expertise added to Hall-Holt’s, may be the catalyst to the ongoing development of one of the youngest squad’s in the Big 12.

Kansas State

The Kansas State Wildcats want to use this season to improve last year’s disappointing 11th-place finish.

Coach Steve Bietau has a unique combination of young and veteran talent. Senior Maria Rosenberg, an all-conference selection in both singles and doubles, returns for Kansas State. Rosenberg enters the 2005 season with a national ranking in singles.

Senior Judith Diaz is coming off a tough 2004 season, winning only two out of 12 matches.

Juniors Jessica Simosa and Aveen Alkhatib each experienced an up-and-down year last spring. Simosa capped off the year at .500 (6-6) whereas Alkhatib failed to register a victory in 10 matches.

Three freshmen will be making their regular-season debuts for Kansas State in 2005. Olga Klimova and Tereza Prochazkova, both of whom hail from Brno, Czech Republic, are talented prospects. Tamar Kvaratskhelia, who was formerly ranked the No. 1 player overseas in Tbilisi, Georgia, will have to make the transition into playing collegiate tennis.

Iowa State

The best news for the Iowa State women’s tennis team is that it’s a brand new season. Having failed to register a victory in the conference since 2002, the Cyclones have been living at the bottom of the conference for the past two seasons.

To make matters even worse, Iowa State must find a way to replace all-conference performer Sabrina Evers.

Freshman Caitlin Loprinzi is a prospect with a great upside. She was formerly ranked the number one player in the USTA Northern section 18-and-under age division, according to the Iowa State athletics department.

Juniors Eve Soriano and Elizabeth Chermel are going to have to lead the Cyclones with veteran leadership. Soriano competed last season at the number two singles slot.

Junior Charlotte Ljungkrantz posted a team-high 15 singles victories for the struggling Cyclones. Iowa State will need more production out of Ljungkrantz if the Cyclones want to compete in a competitive conference.