Monday, April 16, 2007
During Kansas’ 5-2 loss to Colorado on Sunday, half the players representing the Jayhawks were slowed down by injuries.
Lauren Hommell, Roswell junior, returns a hit from Colorado opponent Franziska Jendrian. Hommell was 6-2 against Jendrian. The Jayhawks were defeated overall by Colorado, 5-2.
Three players — juniors Stephanie Smith and Lauren Hommell and sophomore Edina Horvath — battled through injuries on Sunday. A fourth injured player, sophomore Ksenia Bukina, watched from the stands.
“Right now we probably only have three healthy players in our lineup,” coach Amy Hall-Holt said. “It’s taking a toll on us, but we have to keep staying mentally focused.”
No. 30 Colorado came out strong against an ailing Kansas, and cruised to three doubles victories. Junior Elizaveta Avdeeva and Horvath fell to Camila Belassi and Gleisy Torres Torres at No. 1 doubles, 8-1, while Hommell and freshman Kunigunda Dorn lost to Monica Milewski and Franziska Jendrian 8-1 in the No. 2 position. Sophomore Yuliana Svistun and Smith fared only slightly better, managing to get three games against Melisa Esposito and Martina Sedivec in an 8-3 loss at No. 3 doubles.
The Jayhawks fought back in singles play, with Svistun and Horvath both taking victories. Smith, who has battled ankle problems all spring, retired after dropping the first set, 6-0, and down 3-0 in the second set, giving Colorado a 3-1 lead. With freshman Kunigunda Dorn up a set against Veera Nurmi at No. 3 singles, and Avdeeva and Hommell still on the court, it looked like Kansas might have a chance at a miracle comeback. But Avdeeva fell to Milewski, 6-3, 6-1, at No. 1 singles, and Hommell lost to Jendrian, 6-4, 6-4. Dorn dropped the final two sets to Nurmi, and Colorado had its 5-2 victory.
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Our singles came out and really stepped it out after doubles. Our doubles play has been disappointing, and after struggling today, our girls wanted to put it all out there in singles.
-coach Amy Hall-Holt
“Our singles came out and really stepped it out after doubles,” Hall-Holt said. “Our doubles play has been disappointing, and after struggling today, our girls wanted to put it all out there in singles.”
Injuries continue to haunt the team, and Hall-Holt sees no relief in sight. Hall-Holt said it was tough because Kansas will play at Oklahoma on Wednesday, so the team would have only one day to rest before practice on Tuesday and matches on Wednesday.
“One thing that we need is to take time off, but there isn’t any time for that,” Hall-Holt said.
After the dual with Oklahoma on Wednesday, Kansas will return home to take on Texas A&M on Sunday.
Kansan sportswriter Rustin Dodd can be contacted at rdodd@kansan.com.
— Edited by Ashley Thompson
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