THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2012
PAGE 9
CHRIS NEAL/KANSAN
Junior Monica Pezzotti returns a volley during Saturday's match at the Jayhawk Tennis Center against Bradley. Pezzotti completed Kansas' sweep at the tournament.
Jayhawks continue hot streak
CORBIN MIHELIC
cmihelic@kansan.com
The Kansas tennis team began spring dual play with the program's best start since 1992.
After dominating weekend dual matches against Bradley and Arkansas-Little Rock, the Jayhawks improved to 5-0 in its dual matches this season. The team swept Bradley, 7-0, on Saturday, and beat UALR yesterday, 6-1.
"We've got some tough matches coming next week," coach Amy Hall-Holt said. "Being 5-0, we're pretty excited about the weekend and going into next weekend. We've got to keep on building and getting
after it in practice."
"We're ready to keep it rolling and we're ready to just keep improving," Dreyer said. "I think practices are really intense right now, and we're focused on going out there and getting every point of every match."
Fresliman Maria Belen Ludueña and sophomore Claire Dreyer remained undefeated in singles play after easy victories during the weekend. Both players also haven't lost a doubles match yet this season. Ludueña teamed up with sophomore Dylan Windom and Dreyer with junior Victoria Khanevskaya, respectively.
Ludueña and Windom didn't lose a single game in their doubles vio-
"I have a very good partner in Dylan," Luduena said. "She always helps me in everything. I think the team is so close and I'm just happy here. It's amazing, really."
ries over Bradley and Arkansas-Little Rock, despite moving up to the No.1 doubles spot for both matches. Ludueha, a newcomer from Curico, Chile, has yet to lose a singles match in college tennis.
The lone loss on the weekend came yesterday for junior Monica Pezzotti at the No.1 singles spot. Pezzotti fell to UALRs Viktoriya Plyuta yesterday, 6-2, 6-4, and needed a third-set tiebreaker to take down Sarah Rodefeld of Bradley on Saturday.
Next week, the Jayhawks travel to Des Moines, Iowa, where they will face Drake and Montana in its first road dual matches of the season. The team begins its match against Drake at 5 p.m. Saturday, and will take on Montana at 11 a.m. Sunday.
"Yeah, it's great to get these wins under, but we've still got to keep building and we've got to come out and compete," Hall-Holt said. "It doesn't matter who we play, or what records they have. Everybody tends to gun after that Jayhawk."
— Edited by Tanvi Nimkar
SOFTBALL
Pitching shines in Charlotte Classic
SARA KRUGER
skruger@kansan.com
The Kansas softball team was declared the tournament champion after rain forced the cancellation of the final game against Stony Brook Sunday morning. Kansas (7-2) had a 4-0 record for the weekend and extended its winning streak to seven games.
"It feels awesome, but it feels right at the same time," junior Rosie Hull said. "All those games we should have been winning and it just shows we're on the track we're supposed to be on."
On Friday, the team defeated Middle Tennessee State 7-3, scoring five runs in the bottom of the first. Sophomore pitcher Kristen Martinez had no walks, allowed only six hitsl, and striked out seven. All three runs the Blue Raiders scored were home runs.
In its second game, against Charlotte, the team had 16 hits and ,the most since coach Megan Smith arrived at Kansas. After a four-run sixth inning for Charlotte, Kansas lost the lead and went into the seventh needing runs.
"Charlotte was the best game, the way we would answer and come back so quickly," freshman pitcher Alicia Pille said. "We just stepped up and did work and that's the attitude you have to have."
The Jayhawks survived, wrapping up the game 9-6 over the tournament host.
Saturday started with a 2-0 victory against Stony Brook led by Pille's shutout.
"Alicia came out and just dominated," Smith said. "She had really good command of her pitches. We were really happy with her performance."
Battling back once again in its second game Saturday, Kansas was behind 3-0 until a five-run fourth inning gave the team the momentum to win 6-3 against Middle Tennessee State. The Blue Raiders had three runs and four-straight hits at the start of the game.
"When we get to the Big 12 we will know what to do and know how to fight," Pille said. "It feels awesome to be able to do that now."
With junior Morgan Druhan on the mound after replacing Martinez, Kansas silenced the Blue Raider offense for the next six innings. Druhan ended the day with seven strikeouts and two walks.
"Morgan came out and had an excellent game," Smith said. "We had a rough start and she shut it down. She was throwing with a lot of confidence and she did an exceptional job."
Kansas will play in the Seahawk Classic hosted by University of North Carolina Wilmington, Feb. 24-26. The Jayhawks will start the weekend against Fairfield University at 9 a.m.
Edited by Pat Strathman
This week in athletics
Monday There are no athletic events today.
Tuesday
Women's Basketball
Texas Tech
7 p.m.
Lubbock, Texas
Wednesday
Men's Basketball
Texas A&M
8 p.m.
College Station, Texas
Thursday
Swimming
Big 12 Championships
All Day
Columbia, Mo.
Swimming
Big 12 Championships
All Day
Columbia, Mo.
Friday
Women's Basketball
Women's Basketball
Baylor
6:30 p.m.
Lawrence, Kansas
Softball
Fairfield
9 a.m.
Wilmington
Softball
Gardner-Webb
11:15 a.m.
Wilmington, N.C.
Swimming
Big 12 Championships
All Day
Columbia, Mo.
Track and Field
Big 12 Indoor
Championships
All Day
College Station, Texas
Baseball
Mississippi Valley State
2:30 p.m.
Starkville, Miss.
Baseball
Mississippi Valley State
6:30 p.m.
Starkville, Miss.
Saturday
Tennis
Drake
5 p.m.
Des Moines, Iowa
Softball
Unc Wilmington
11:15 a.m.
Wilmington, N.C.
Men's Basketball Missouri 3 p.m. Lawrence, Kansas
Swimming
Big 12 Championship
All Day
Columbia, Mo.
Track and Field
Big 12 Indoor
Championships
All Day
College Station, Texas
baseball
Mississippi Valley State
4 p.m.
Starkville, Miss.
Softball
TBA
Wilmington, N.C.
Sunday
Tennis
Montana
11 a.m.
Des Moines, Iowa
Baseball
Mississippi Valley State
11 a.m.
Starkville, Miss.
Softball
TBA
Wilmington, N.C.
Swimming
Last Chance Meet
10 a.m.
Columbia, Mo.
Which KU IFC fraternity can claim...
1. A US Senate Majority Leader,
3. A CEO of Chrysler Motor Company,
2. A CEO of Ford Motor Company,
4. A Chairman and owner of Russell Stover Candies
5. A KU Basketball Head Coach and two time All American
...among their alumni?