Tigers Host Kansas State and Kansas
4/6/2005 12:00:00 AM | Tennis
April 6, 2005
This Week In Missouri Tennis
The #50 Missouri tennis team continues its three-match home stand hosting Kansas State and Border Showdown rival, Kansas. The Tigers square off against the Wildcats on Fri., April 8 at 2:00 p.m., and battle the Jayhawks on Sat., April 9 at 11:00 a.m. Both matches will be held in the Green Tennis Center.
Missouri Rankings
Missouri is currently ranked #47 in Intercollegiate Tennis Association Rankings. Moving up the ranks, the Tigers own victories over #46 Colorado, #52 Ohio State and #75 Louisville. Senior Katka Sevcikova is currently ranked #102 after receiving her highest career ranking at #63 earlier this season.
Last Time Out ... v. #48 Texas A&M
The Tigers were bested 5-2 by the #48 Texas A&M Aggies. For only the fourth time this season, Missouri dropped the doubles point and marked the first time the Tigers have been swept in pairs play this year. After dropping the doubles point, Mizzou needed to win four matches to take the team victory. Highlighting for the Tigers in singles play, Lubica Nadasska bested Tiffany Clifford 7-5, 6-3 while Carolyn Kramer fought to defeat Maria Druss 7-5, 5-7, 10-6 in the a tiebreaker. The loss drops the Tigers' to a 12-5 season and 2-4 league record.
Scouting Kansas State
Kansas State enters the weekend with a 6-6 season record and a 1-3 conference mark. In their last outing, the Wildcats bested the Wichita State Shockers, 7-0. The Wildcats were led in doubles by the No. 3 tandem of freshmen Tereza Prochazkova and Fernanda Da Valle, who defeated the Shocker's Alejandra Ripoll and Anna Martorell, 8-1. Kansas State swept the singles competition, taking all six matches with straight set victories.
The Wildcats have matched up with ranked opponents in BYU, Mississippi, and Arkansas, owning a 0-3 record. This marks the 27th meeting between the Mizzou and K-State with Kansas State owning the series record. Last season the Tigers bested the Wildcats, 4-3.
Scouting Kansas
Border Showdoan rival Kansas enters the weekend owning a 4-11 season record and a 3-4 conference mark. In their last time out, the Jayhawks dropped a 3-4 contest to the Texas Tech Raiders. The Jayhawks were swept in doubles competition but picked up three singles victories. Playing at No. 1 singles, freshman Elizaveta Avdeeva defeated Texas Tech's Cigdem Duru, 7-5, 0-6, 7-6. The Jayhawks were also bolstered by the play of junior Christine Skoda, who posted a straight set victory over Janet Durham. With the win, Skoda improves to 5-2 in league play.
The Jayhawks have matched up with several raked opponents this season including Iowa, Mississippi and Mississippi State. This marks the 36th meeting between Mizzou and Kansas. The Jayhawks own the series record 18-7. Winning the coveted Border Showdown last season, the Tigers bested Kansas, 5-2.
Catching up with Kramer
Carolyn Kramer, a senior transfer from Virginia Tech has bolstered the Tigers establishing an 11-3 season record. Pairing with Katka Sevcikova the duo owns an 11-4 doubles record with one of their losses coming at the hands of Colorado's #49 tandem of Kendra Strandemo and Jessica Vanderdys. Providing clutch performances for Mizzou playing at No. 5 and No. 6 singles, she has helped the Tigers defeat Minnesota coming back from a third set deficit to defeat Marina Bugaenco. She also helped the Tigers upset #46 with her 6-2, 6-4 victory of Gleisy Torres Torres. Her defeat of Ohio State's Lindsey Bryan also helped the Tigers clinch another team victory. Kramer concluded fall play with a singles record of 6-5 and a doubles record of 6-2.
Serving it up with Sevcikova
Anchoring the Tigers, Katka Sevcikova is currently ranked #102 by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association. Holding her own at No. 1 singles she has recorded victories over two Top 50 players in Nebraska's Gitte Ostermann and Indiana's Dora Vastag. She is 10-6 on the season with important victories over Colorado's Lyndzee Keaver and Ohio State's Lindsey Adams. She has also teamed with Carolyn Kramer to compile an 11-3 season doubles record. She concluded fall play with a team best record of 12-1 and a doubles record of 8-3.
Hitting with Kraftova
One of the teams' top returners, Hana Kraftova continues to bolster the Tiger effort. She has provided depth in the lineup playing at No. 2 singles. In doubles play she has paired with senior Katka Sevcikova to win two matches but has been most impressive playing with newcomer Charlotte Bellis. The tandem has compiled a 7-2 season record. Returning to the court against Iowa State, Kraftova recorded her first win in three matches defeating Caitlin Loprinizi 6-1, 3-6, 6-2. Kraftova had been sidelined with a foot injury. She concluded fall play with singles record of 3-9 and a doubles record of 5-2.
On the Court with Olshanskaya
One half of the Tigers powerful sophomore class, Yelena Olshanskaya continues to make a name for herself. Olshanskaya is 10-6 on the season with key victories at Minnesota and Oregon. Defeating Colorado's Jessica Vanderdys, 6-3, 6-4 she helped the Tigers claim the team victory. She also bolstered the Tiger against Ohio State coming back from
a 4-1 deficit in the first set to defeat Meredith Vincent 6-4, 6-4. Olshanskaya has won eight matches in straight sets. Teaming with fellow sophomore Erika Josbena the duo has picked up nine victories. She recorded a 7-5 singles record and 3-5 doubles record in fall play.
Juggling with Josbena
The other half of the Tigers powerful sophomore class Erika Josbena continued where she left off last season providing depth for the Tiger lineup going 9-7 on the season. Providing consistency for the Tiger playing at No. 3 and No. 4 singles, she helped Mizzou defeat #75 Louisville winning her match 2-6, 6-1, 6-2 over Suzanna Gracacin. Pairing with Yelena Olshanskaya the duo has won nine doubles matches. She concluded fall play with a singles record of 8-4 and a doubles record of 5-6.
Netting with Nadasska
Freshman Lubica Nadasska looks to add depth to the Tigers lineup in singles play. She has played in 15 matches this season owning a 12-3 singles record. Playing primarily at No. 5 she has recorded important victories against Minnesota and the Tigers tightly contested loss to #27 Oregon. Nadasska defeated Ohio State's Kristen Messmer in straight sets to help the Tigers to the team win. She has recently teamed with fellow newcomer Charlotte Bellis tin doubles to establish a 3-0 doubles record. She concluded fall play with a singles record of 6-4 and a doubles record of 8-3.
Hitting Balls with Bellis
Freshman Charlotte Bellis exploded onto the collegiate scene, rotating with various teammates at No. 5 and No. 6 singles, to boast an 8-2 singles record, with several straight set victories. Pairing with several teammates in doubles action she has picked up four wins. Most recently pairing with fellow freshman Lubica Nadasska the pair has established a 3-0 doubles record playing at No. 3. She concluded fall play with a singles record of 8-3 and a doubles record of 5-3.
Tidbits about Barry
Senior Mary Barry has turned in fine performances this season, despite recent injury. Barry has proved invaluable in pairs play, with a 2-1 season record. She concluded the fall season with a singles record of 3-3 and a doubles record of 2-2.
Coming Up Next Week
The Tigers hit the road next weekend traveling to Oklahoma for matches with the Oklahoma Sooners and the Oklahoma State Cowgirls. Missouri returns home for its final home contest of the season, April 23, against the Texas Longhorns. The Tigers will honor seniors Katka Sevcikova, Carolyn Kramer and Mary Barry.
