Tennis coach said team excited to meet challenges in Big 12 tournament
- Mar. 8, 2012
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- udkne.ws/O0gsYT
From this weekend on, the Kansas women’s tennis team will compete against a whole new level of talent.
The Jayhawks’ last two matches better reflect the challenges the teams in the Big 12 conference have to offer, beginning tomorrow at home against No. 40 Oklahoma. The Sooners, who currently sit at 6-6 for the season, are 2-6 against teams ranked in the top 75 of the Intercollegiate Tennis Association’s rankings.
“Being 7-2 going into conference play isn’t too shabby, so we’re pretty excited,” coach Amy Hall-Holt said. “We’re excited about starting out with Oklahoma and Oklahoma State this weekend. The girls too have a lot of energy and a lot of excitement.”
After having a day off, Kansas will stay in town to take on No. 56 Oklahoma State Sunday. The Cowgirls (6-3) fell to Oklahoma, 5-2, last Saturday and will face Kansas State Friday before traveling to Lawrence.
Junior Monica Pezzotti indicated that Hall-Holt made a lineup adjustment in the wake of last weekend’s losses, notably on the doubles side. Pezzotti said she will pair-up with sophomore Dylan Windom at No. 1 doubles, while sophomore Paulina Los and freshman Maria Belen Ludueña will compete at the No. 2 spot.
“We needed to try something different to have a stronger No. 1 doubles,” Pezzotti said. “I think Dylan and I are going to do well in doubles.”
The team remained upbeat in practice Thursday, coming off its first two losses of the season to No. 30 Tulsa, 7-0, and No. 40 North Texas, 6-1. Hall-Holt said that playing outdoors at last weekend’s matches was a struggle at times, although saying it was no excuse for the results.
Tulsa defeated Oklahoma, 5-2, in a match earlier this season, while Oklahoma took down North Texas, in January.
“It was definitely eye-opening playing against ranked teams, but I think we did really well,” said Kansas sophomore Claire Dreyer. “We just kept fighting and it wasn’t really a negative weekend for us.”
The Jayhawks’ match against Oklahoma is set to begin at 3 p.m. Friday at Jayhawk Tennis Center, while the match against Oklahoma State starts at noon on Sunday.
Edited by Nadia Imafidon
