Tennis hoping for turnaround season
- Aug. 15, 2012
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The women’s tennis team at Kansas is looking to get on the winning track in 2012-13, after finishing last season at 9-13 and 0-9 in conference play.
The Jayhawks add three new players and return seven from last year, adding to the high hopes head coach Amy Hall-Holt has for the team.
“The addition of three new players is a huge change, it adds more depth, and it will make the team more competitive,” Hall-Holt said.
KANSAN FILE PHOTO
Sophomore Dylan Windom serves during her singles match at the Jayhawk Tennis Center.
Maria Cardona and Anastasija Trubica are the two incoming freshmen and Haley Fournier transferred from Texas Tech last year, but did not play for the Jayhawks due to NCAA transfer rules.
The new players are not the only difference the Jayhawks will see on the court this year as TCU and West Virginia join the Big 12 Conference.
The Big 12 is not considered an easy conference to play in, with four teams finishing in the top 25 last year. TCU comes to the conference having finished 18-6 last year and 7-0 in the Mountain West Conference.
But Hall-Holt does not single out teams when preparing for the season.
“I wouldn’t say there is any added pressure to beat the new teams,” Hall-Holt said. “We are going to come out and compete every game, all the teams in this league are good, we don’t want to look past any team.”
With a new season comes new opportunities and challenges. If the Jayhawks are able to mesh, maybe this season can be one to remember.
“We have some new blood coming in which could make for some positive changes,” Hall-Holt said. “We need the upperclassmen to step up, but I am excited for the challenges overall.”
While the light did not shine all that bright for the Jayhawks on the court last season, there was a bright spot off the court as Paulina Los, a sophomore, was named to the 2012 Academic All-Big 12 Women’s Tennis First Team.
The women’s team at KU has had at least one player represented on the list since the Big 12 began in 1997.
This season’s Big 12 Championship will be held on April 25-28 in Norman, Okla.
—Edited by Vikaas Shanker
