Monday, April 21, 2008
Sunday was a senior day to remember for the Kansas tennis team.
Two days after knocking off No. 67 Nebraska, Kansas swept the Iowa State Cyclones, 7-0, en route to a fifth place finish in the Big 12 conference this season. Sunday’s victory over Iowa State gives Kansas a 32-1 advantage all-time in the series and its 29th consecutive victory of the Cyclones.
Junior Yuliana Svistun returns a shot during a singles match Sunday afternoon against Iowa State. Kansas will start the Big XII Championships this Thursday, March 24th at College Station, Texas.
“Coming out and winning 7-0 on senior day is the most important thing for the girls,” Coach Amy Hall-Holt said. “We don’t look at the streak or anything like that.”
The senior class left on a high note as the three seniors Elizaveta Avdeeva, Lauren Hommell and Stephanie Smith combined for a 5-0 record on the day.
Coach Amy Hall-Holt said that this year’s seniors were great examples of what a Jayhawk should be.
“They’ve definitely been dedicated Jayhawks,” Hall-Holt said. “They’ve accomplished a lot of things that a lot of girls haven’t. I’m very proud of them.”
The day was especially memorable for senior Elizaveta Avdeeva, who with the help of junior Edina Horvath, notched her 23rd career Big 12 doubles victory after defeating Iowa State’s Kara Hickey and Chrissy Derouin 8-4. Avdeeva’s 23 Big 12 doubles victories are the most in school history.
“I wasn’t nervous. I just knew these two matches were important against Nebraska and Iowa State, and I just came and played as usual,” Avdeeva said. “I feel great right now.”
Avdeeva and the rest of the team got off to a fast start winning all three doubles matches against the Cyclones. The No. 2 doubles tandem of senior Lauren Hommell and junior Kunigunda Dorn defeated Iowa State’s Alyssa Palen and Caitlin Loprinzi, 8-4, while the No. 3 doubles pairing of freshman Magdalena Tokarczyk and junior Yuliana Svistun cruised by the Cyclone’s Liza Wischer and Reka Kelemen, 8-1.
The Jayhawks continued their assault on the Cyclones in singles winning all six matches. Tokarczyk, Avdeeva, Horvath, Svistun and Hommell, all picked up victories in straight sets. Senior Stephanie Smith secured the sweep when she defeated Iowa State’s Chrissy Derouin, 2-6, 7-6 (4), 1-0 (6).
With the victory Kansas finishes the regular season with a 5-6 record in conference and 9-12 record overall. Kansas’ conference mark is its best since the 2001-2002 campaign when the team finished second in the Big 12.
“The one thing that we’ve been striving for is definitely improving our Big 12 status, and the girls did that today and this weekend especially by beating Nebraska,” Coach Amy Hall-Holt said. “This is where we want to be.”
After a successful home stand Kansas will head to College Station, Texas where it will face Iowa State in the opening round of the Big 12 tournament on Wednesday. The fifth-seeded Jayhawks will try to continue their hot streak against the Cyclones and advance to the second round of play after being dismissed in the first round by the University of Oklahoma one year ago.
“Right now, we’re feeling pretty good about our chances to do well in the Big 12,” Avdeeva said. “Everyone is pumped up.”
—Edited by Daniel Reyes
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