THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
MONDAY, AUGUST 17, 2009
SPORTS 3B
TENNIS
Young team hopes to prove strength, talent during season
BY ANDREW POSCH aposch@kansan.com
aposch@kansan.com
The last time the Kansas Jayhawks took the court, they walked off with a first-round loss to the Missouri Tigers at the Big 12 Championship tournament.
This year, the bar sits a little higher.
Led by sevent-year coach Amy Hall-Holt and assistant coach German Dalmagro, the KU women's tennis team hopes to unite a set of youthful yet experienced players.
"We're definitely going to be young, but we always hope that we're strong enough and ready to compete at the high level," Hall-Holt said. "We're excited, and we look forward to being a really solid team this year, from top to bottom."
Although this year's squad boasts only one senior, Kunigunda Dorn, the Jayhawks are returning four of the six starters from last spring. Sitting near the top of the lineup will be sophomore Ekaterina Morozova, who played both the No. 1 and 2 singles positions throughout last season. Morozova teamed up with recent graduate Edina Horvath to hold the No. 1 doubles spot last year.
Dorn, who partnered up with last season's only other senior, Yuliana Swistun, will be another key competitor. Dorn hopes to make the
most of her last year in a Jayhawk uniform. After compiling a 5-17 singles record during the 2009 spring campaign, she will be fighting to finish her college career on a high note.
"Kunigunda has been working really hard on her strength and conditioning," Hall-Holt said. "She's just happy to be here, and she's ready to play."
The final two returning starters from last season are junior Maria Martinez and sophomore Erin Wilbert. They played the No. 5 and 6 singles positions and paired up as the No. 2
"We're definitely going to be young, but we always hope that we're strong enough and ready to compete."
doubles team. Together the duo held a 7-13 record while also finishing the spring season with winning singles records. Swistun was the only other team member to do so.
Filling out this year's lineup are junior Kate Goff, sophomore Alessandra Dzuba and freshmen Victoria Khanevskaya and Sara Lazarevic. Hall-Holt said if all goes well, the team may also add one more freshman to the roster in January.
much shorter and centers more on individual performance.
During the spring tennis season, matches are played head-to-head in a dual style with the focus on direct team wins. The fall stint is
The layhawks are competing in five events this fall. After opening at UNC.Wilmington Sept. 11 to 13, the team will host two tournaments and play in Los Angeles before concluding with the ITA Regional Tournament at the University of Oklahoma.
AMY HALL-HOLT Coach
Top finishers of the Regional will advance to the ITA National Intercollegiate Indoor Championships in November.
The home tournements will take place Sept. 25 to 27 and Oct. 23 to 25 at First Serve in Lawrence.
"The facilities are
The faceties are becoming much more fan-friendly." Hall-Hott said. "It's really not the quiet game with a few claws that people may think it is. It's really very aggressive and can be quite loud."
Favorable reviews of the Jayhawks' home facility aren't only coming from the team.
"We have gallery seating, so there is a good viewing area," said Pat Lomshek, teaching pro and programs coordinator for First Serve. "It's a great way to spend a Saturday or Sunday afternoon."
Edited by Samantha Foster
File photo/KANSAN
Sophomore Erin Wilbert returns a shot against Brigham Young University last season. Wilbert is one of four returning starters from last year's team.
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Players hope to top last season's performance
Team optimistic about chances in competing in the NCAA Tournament
BY BEN WARD AND CHRISTIAN LUCERO bward@kansan.com clucero@kansan.com
In a venue rich with tradition, the Kansas women's basketball team took center stage on the hardwood.
Flash back to April 4. The scene, Allen Fieldhouse. The air in the Phog thick with excitement, packed with screaming Jayhawk fans working themselves into a frenzy to watch postseason basketball.
The team hosted the WNIT Championship, drawing a record crowd of 16,113 — the largest women's basketball game attendance in Big 12 history.
Kansas ended up losing the contest to South Florida 75-71, but is determined to build on last season's finish.
Gearing up for another postseason run, the Jayhawks have their eyes set on an even bigger stage.
"We have high expectations
this year. We definitely expect to go far," senior guard Sade Morris said. "Hopefully we'll compete at the top of the Big 12 and go deep into the NCAA Tournament."
In order to do so, the lajayhacks must first go through another
challenging schedule, coming off a season where they had one of the toughest in the nation. Kansas will play eight games against conference opponents who made the
"We have high expectations this year. We definitely expect to go far."
NCAA Tournament, as well as five non-conference teams that qualified for postseason play.
Additionally, Kansas welcomes six newcomers to the program, four freshmen and two transfer students. Coach Bonnie Henrick-
The layhawks also lost four players to graduation but returning are nine players, including four starters from last year.
SADE MORRIS Senior guard
son thinks the Jayhawks have the necessary talent in place.
"We're excited about this season." Henrickson said. "We've got four starters returning, a really good group off of the bench, and also the young kids having a
chance to come in and help us."
The returning starters were all major contributors to the team last season. In addition to Morris, the Jayhawks return junior center Krysten Boogaard, junior forward Nicollette Smith
The team has been busy working all summer, both in the classroom and on the court — but McCray had an especially busy offseason. The Olathe native recently helped lead Team USA to a gold medal at the Women's World University Games in Belgrade, Serbia. Re-
and senior guard-forward Dall ielle McCray, who led the team in both scoring and rebounding.
"The experience of playing with all of those talented girls really motivated me," McCray said. "I want to help take our team to that level of success."
turning to campus as one of the team's leaders. McCray hopes to use her experiences overseas to benefit the team.
McCray also echoed Morris' sentiments regarding increased expectations for this season.
"The WNIT was definitely good for our confidence," McCray said. "We're trying to get better and better, hopefully move from the WNIT to the NCAA Tournament this year."
After all their hard work this summer, the Jayhawks should be more than ready for their Nov. 1 opener against Pittsburg State.
"We've had a great summer and our kids have been fantastic," Henrickson said. "They're excited about the season, and they should be."
— Edited by Amanda Thompson
Senior guardforward Danielle McCray jumps for a basket during the second half of the WNIT Championship game against the University of South Florida in April. The Bulls defeated the Jayhawks 75-71.
File photo/KANSAN
BASKETBALL Henrickson excited about three-year extension
"We are excited about what the future holds, and very pleased that Bonnie will be the coach to lead us into that future," Athletics Director Lew Perkins said in a statement.
Women's basketball coach Bonnie Henrickson signed a three-year contract extension, the Athletics Department announced last week.
Henrickson's contract now runs through the 2013-14 season. Her annual $485,000 contract remains unchanged, as does her additional retention payment, which is $150,000 per year.
BASKETBALL High schooler signs with professional team in Israel
SAN DIEGO — Jeremy Tyler went from high schooler to pro basketball player when he signed a one-year, $140,000 contract with Maccabi Haifa of the Israeli Premier Leaque.
perhaps the most difficult conference in the country."
Kansas finished the 2008-09 season ranked in the Top 25 in attendance and fourth in the country in increased attendance. The Jayhawks have advanced to postseason play in three of Henrickson's five years with the program and have a record of 79-79.
Henrickson arrived at Kansas after seven years at Virginia Tech. The Hokies reached the NCAA tournament five times and the WNIT twice, winning 20 or more games each season.
Tyler, 18, is the first Americanborn player to leave high school
"I appreciate the vote of confidence from Lew Perkins and I am excited about the progress we've made," Henrickson said in a statement.
- Stephen Montemayor
early to play basketball professionally overseas. The 6-foot-11 Tyler announced in the spring that he was skipping his senior season at San Diego High because prep basketball had become boring.
Tyler, who averaged 28.7 points during his junior season, is expected to return to the U.S. when he becomes eligible for the 2011 NBA draft.