A couple of dual meets versus some Midwestern foes prevented the Kansas tennis team (5-8) from soaking up any sun during spring break.

The Jayhawks suffered road losses to Colorado and Missouri as well as a home loss in their nonconference finale against Iowa over the break. After three tough losses the team will be looking to get back to its winning ways this weekend as it faces off against a pair of Oklahoma schools.

Despite the difficult losses, coach Amy Hall-Holt said the team was playing at a very competitive level and was focused on this weekend’s matches.

“The girls are practicing hard. Their level of competitiveness increases every time I see them out here. It was a disappointing loss against Missouri and it got to us, but I think the girls are bouncing back,” Hall-Holt said. “I think the girls see that we’re right there and we just got to keep pushing.”

Kansas ended its nonconference schedule with a 4-3 loss to the Iowa Hawkeyes on March 20. The Jayhawks finished non-conference play with a record of 4-6.

The Jayhawks record is impressive considering the daunting nonconference schedule laid out for them. Seven out the Jayhawks’ 10 nonconference opponents are ranked in the latest ITA collegiate rankings. The only team to beat Kansas this season and not be named in the latest poll is the University of Missouri.

With the heart of Big 12 play approaching, the Jayhawks are not likely to see a letdown in quality of the competition. The team will play eight meets, four against ranked opponents, over the next 23 days in preparation for the Big 12 championships in College Station, Texas.

“We definitely have a lot of tough matches ahead of us,” Hall-Holt said. “Oklahoma and Oklahoma State who we’re playing this weekend are always tough.”

Senior Elizaveta Avdeeva knows winning is important, especially down the stretch, in order to keep the team’s morale high.

“When you win, you don’t think if you’re tired or not, but if you lose it can get you down and then it can get tougher to play,” Avdeeva said.

Kansas will continue its five-game home stand Friday when it takes on the Oklahoma Sooners and then again on Sunday when the Jayhawks face-off against the Cowboys of Oklahoma State. The decision to play indoors or outdoors will be determined based on weather the day of each contest.

Hall-Holt said she believed Lawrence acted as a comfort zone for the team and gave the Jayhawks an extra edge.

“It’s your territory. It’s your home court. It’s where you practice,” Hall-Holt. “You get a crowd behind you and it definitely helps.”

—Edited by Samuel Lamb