Wednesday, April 11, 2007
The Kansas tennis team may have perfected the recipe for an agonizing season — injuries, close losses and blowout losses.
First, No. 1 singles player sophomore Ksenia Bukina was sidelined for good on Jan. 27 after battling a continual injury. Juniors Stephanie Smith and Lauren Hommell joined Bukina on the injured list by missing some time this season.
Second, the “oh-so-close” close losses against rival Missouri and Syracuse, and the blowout losses to powerhouses Baylor and Texas. To say this has been a frustrating season on the tennis court might be an understatement.
But coach Amy Hall-Holt doesn’t want to word it that way.
“I wouldn’t say frustration,” Hall-Holt said, “But it’s tough when we only have six players, and girls in the lineup are playing and battling injuries.”
The Jayhawks will match up with a team that may be able to relate to their struggles. Kansas plays host to in-state rival Kansas State at 2 p.m. today at the Robinson Center courts.
But while Kansas has dropped four straight dual matches to drop to 4-12 and 2-5 in the Big 12 Conference, K-State has won two straight and sits at 4-11 and 2-4 in conference play.
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Everyone left on the schedule is beatable. Yeah, there is a sense of frustration on the team, but everyone is just trying to support each other because of the injuries.
-junior Stephanie Smith
As always, doubles will play a crucial role in deciding which team grabs a victory-Kansas is 0-12 when losing the doubles point-and both team possess a potent doubles team. Olga Klimova and Katerina Kudlackova have a 5-1 record playing primarily at the No. 2 doubles position for K-State, while junior Elizaveta Avdeeva and sophomore Edina Horvath lead the Big 12 with six victories at the No. 1 doubles for Kansas.
Kansas leads the all-time series 37-7, but has lost the last two years, including a 6-1 defeat last year in Manhattan.
Although records are thrown out whenever these two schools meet up, junior Stephanie Smith said the team had a desire to finish strong.
“Everyone left on the schedule is beatable,” Smith said. “Yeah, there is a sense of frustration on the team, but everyone is just trying to support each other because of the injuries.”
This is not what Hall-Holt anticipated after a 14-11 record a year ago, but despite the long list of setbacks, Hall-Holt has constantly voiced pride in her group of players.
“We have stuck together as a team,” Hall-Holt said. “The problems haven’t disrupted the team and our ability to go out and compete.”
Today’s match will be played at the Robinson courts, weather permitting. Otherwise, the match will be moved to First Serve Tennis Center, 5200 Clinton Parkway.
Kansan sportswriter Rustin Dodd can be contacted at rdodd@kansan.com.
— Edited by James Pinick
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Tennis team plagued with adversity
"The Kansas tennis team may have perfected the recipe for an agonizing season — injuries, close losses and blowout losses."
I blame Julian Wright's departure. Bless him, bless him, but there's now a cloud over Lawrence.
Tennis team plagued with adversity
more articles by Rustin, please!
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