Monday, March 10, 2008
The Kansas tennis team started strong with a sweep in doubles to guide it past the 46th ranked New Mexico Lobos 4-3 on Sunday afternoon in Lawrence.
The Jayhawks took the doubles point and four out of the six singles matches to win their second straight match against a ranked opponent and improve their record in dual match play to 5-5.
“The confidence level is really building in each and every spot,” coach Amy Hall-Holt said. “We’ve got to keep growing and building our level of play.”
Just four days after sealing Kansas’ victory against Kansas State in Manhattan, senior Lauren Hommell again stepped up for the Jayhawks defeating the Lobos’ Jennifer Ryba 6-3, 6-2 to give Kansas the match.
“I knew that it was coming down to me and I was just trying to stay positive and stay upbeat and not let the pressure get to me,” Hommell said.
Hommell, who missed the fall season of her senior year with an injury, is confident of her abilities at the No. 6 spot but says the position can be challenging at times.
“Sometimes it’s hard to be number six because you go out there and you already lost the match so it’s kind of hard to stay focused when you already know it’s not going to do anything,” Hommell said. “You kind of just have to go out there for yourself when you play six, but if it comes down to me, I think I can do it every time.”
The Jayhawk win snapped New Mexico’s three match winning streak, which included victories against 59th ranked Boise State and 67th ranked Kansas State. After dropping three straight matches decided by a 5-2 margin or less to start dual match play, Kansas found a way to pull out those close matches, winning five of its last seven.
A strong start in doubles is something the Jayhawks have been missing during the past several weeks. Sunday was the first time since the Feb. 16 sweep of UMKC that Kansas was able to pick up a doubles point and start the match with a lead.
“It’s a lot easier if you win the doubles point, to win those 4-3 matches,” Hommell said.
The strong doubles push by Kansas was led by the veteran pair of senior Elizaveta Avdeeva and junior Edina Horvath. They improved their dual match record to 7-3 and their overall record on the year to 14-8.
Also picking up doubles victories for Kansas were the pairings of Hommell and sophomore Kunigunda Dorn, and of freshman Magdalena Tokarczyk and junior Yuliana Svistun.
In singles play the bottom half of the Jayhawks lineup had a strong showing, as Kansas emerged victorious at the No. 3, 4 and 6 singles positions.
Horvath defeated the Lobos’ Mackenzie White 6-1, 6-3, at the No. 3 position improving her dual match record on the year to 8-2. Horvath’s combined singles and doubles dual match play record is an impressive 15-5 on the season.
“Each year, she has gotten better and better, and I’m very proud of her performance,” Hall-Holt said. “She is helping with leading the team, as well. I don’t want to say it’s a match that we can count on, but I can always count on Edina giving 110 percent.”
The Jayhawks’ Dorn cruised by New Mexico’s Emma Hayman 6-2, 6-2 at the No. 4 spot to improve her dual match record to 3-5.
The Jayhawks’ next match will be March 14th in Boulder, Colo., where Kansas will face Big 12 North foe Colorado.
Hall-Holt said she was proud of Sunday’s victory but wants to maintain focus for the upcoming showdown against the Buffaloes.
“These girls have got to raise their level every time they step on the court,” Hall-Holt said. “I’m proud of the girls. I want them to enjoy their victory today, but come Tuesday, it’s all about Colorado.”
— Edited by Katherine Loeck
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