LAWRENCE JOURNAL-WORLD
KUED·SPORTS
AUGUST, 1996 PAGE 45E
KU should be in Hunt for Big 12 title
FILE PHOTO
Kylie Hunt, a senior, reached the NCAA singles final last year.
BY ROBERT SINCLAIR
JOURNAL WORLD SPORTS WRITER
Following the pressure of five consecutive Big Eight Conference championships, Kansas University's women's tennis team is actually looking forward to the relief of the inaugural Big 12 season.
"I'll tell you one thing that's nice — it's not ours to lose for the first time in five years," KU coach Chuck Merzbacher said. "When you're out there and they just keep shooting for you — like that Oklahoma State match (in the NCAA Central Region championship) — sooner or later they just get so fired up for you."
The match against the Cowgirls, a 5-4 Jayhawk loss, marked the disappointing end to a successful season.
After an undefeated run through the conference and an unprecedented fifth consecutive title, Kansas had fire in its eyes.
"Obviously we wanted to make it to the Sweet 16," Merzbacher said. "We made it to the final 22 teams and lost in that last round. Our goal was to get to that final site, but we were a couple of inches short."
Nevertheless, the season wasn't a loss.
WOMEN'S TENNIS
"I feel like we had a great year," Merzbacher said. "We won the last Big Eight which was a goal. We won the last Big Eight Tournament which was a goal, and we wanted to be a top-20 team. We were ranked No. 20."
A lot of KU's success had to do with Kylie Hunt, who made a successful run of her own through the NCAA postseason. In fact, Hunt advanced to the singles championship before being defeated.
"Kylie Hunt had an unbelievable year," Merzbacher said of his No.1 singles player, a senior from Newcastle, Australia.
Hunt posted a 49-4 record, was an AllAmerican and the No.6 player in the country.The "low" ranking came as a surprise to her coach.
"She was the No.1 seed at the NCAAs and lost in the finals," Merzbacher said. "I think she wants to come back and maybe win every Grand Slam event. She's got high goals and I know the rest of the team has high goals."
"I was so close last time and know that I can do it," Hunt said. "I know what it takes and it was just such a good experience."
The Jayhawks should remain strong despite the loss of No.2 player Jenny Atkerson (23-10) and Kim Webster to graduation.
The No. 1 through No. 5 positions could shape up like this: Hunt, junior Christie Sim (25-12), senior Bianca Kirchhof (19-17), junior Maria Abatjoglou (25-13) and sophomore Kris Sell (22-13). The last position could go to either senior Amy Trytek (6-5) or one of the newcomers, Brooke Chiller (Australia) and Julia Sidorova (Riga, Latvia).
"I know we have some good freshmen coming in, but I don't know their capabilities," Hunt said. "I think we'll all be fighting for our spots and I think it will be pretty competitive among a lot of people."
Although Merzbacher said Hunt "has dibs on No.1," he agreed the rest of the positions are up in the air.
"It's just a matter of who's going to be ready to play," Merzbacher said. "Christie Sim had some great wins and is very talented. I think after those two, it's just whoever steps up. Its really wide-open."
Merzbacher is hoping the seniors — Hunt, Kirchhof and Trytek — will elevate their games.