8B
SPORTS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAS
TUESDAY FEBRUARY 27, 2007
》 TENNIS
Russian transfer finds her rhythm
Elizaveta Avdeeva impresses coach opponents with on-court ability
BY RUSTIN DODD
Elizayeta Avdeyeva has plenty of experience irritating her opponents.
experience in training her opponents.
Of course, playing Adeveea would drive you battie, too. Avdeeva (teammates call her Liaa) might look like Little Bo Peep, but don't let her appearance fool you. This 5-foot-9-inch Russian native with a spectacular forehand slugs it out from the baseline like a bare-knuckled brawler.
As expected, Avdeeva has no problem being a nuisance for her opponents on the court.
“It's nice,” she said. “If I see something doesn't work [in their game], I just try to take advantage.”
Need more proof? Ask Petra Dizdar of Texas. Dizdar came into her Jan. 27 match against Avedee a three time All Big 12 player, but walked off the court aggrandized and empty handed, as Avedee defeated Dizcar 6-2, 6-7(5), 6-3.
Yet, for all of Advedeva early-season success it is easy to forget how far she has come in the past four years.
In the fall of 2004, Avdeeva was a freshman at Moscow State University looking for a way to play tennis at the collegiate level, but Moscow State did not have a women's tennis program, so Avdeeva was forced to look elsewhere.
"I still wanted to play tennis, but I just didn't have a chance to play," she said.
Enter Kansas and coach Amy Hall-Holt.
Avdeva became a layhawk in January 2005, and shortly after claimed the No.1 singles spot. However, Avdeva's transition to Division I collegiate tennis and life in the United States was filled with a few obstacles.
"The first couple months were really hard for me to get used to the new environment,new people,the team environment."
and No. 1 doubles with Ksenia Bukina, Avdeeva was named All-Big 12 in singles and doubles. She also excelled in the classroom and named to the Academic All-Big 12 team. For Avdeeva, the transformation was all about maturity.
"The first couple months were really hard for me to get used to the new environment, new people, the team environment" she said. "You practice with the team, you focus on team goals, that was kind of different."
Adeveela struggled to a 5-13 record in her freshman singles campaign, but bounced back in a big way during her sophomore season. Competing at No. 2 singles
"My freshman year. I started to play No 1, and I just was losing matches. I was impatient. I was trying to hit balls really hard," she said. "Last year and this year I changed my game. I became more patient. I think I'm playing smarter."
Coming in to the 2007 season, the pressure was squarely on Avdeeva to live up to her 2006 accolades, and thus far, she has answered the call. Avdeeva has grown a reputation as a grinding singles player whose matches tend to turn into marathons. Avdeeva has a 2-2 record in four three-set matches. Avdeeva, though, has been most impressive on the doubles court with new partner Edina Horvath. Avdeeva and Horvath, a Budapest, Hungary native, have led the lajwahks with an 8-2 record at No.1 doubles.
ELIZAVETA AVDEEVA Junior tennis player
"We are really confident together."
said riorvatn:
More than that,
the duo seems to
have developed
and unshakable
chemistry on the
court.
"Sometimes you can feel the partner," said Avdeeva referring to her ability to sense Horvath's move
ments on the court. "Where she's going to go, where she is going to hit the ball, how she's going to hit the ball."
Despite Avdeeva's 8-2 record in doubles, coach Hall-Holt gives her biggest praise to the things you don't see, Avdeeva's intangibles.
"It's her enthusiasm, her dedication," Hall-Holt said. "I know she has a very high talent level. It's just very exciting to see her step up on the court."
As Avdeeva continues to step up for the Kansas tennis team, one thing is certain. If you step out onto a tennis court with Avdeeva, prepare to be annoyed.
Kansan sportswriter Rustin Dodd can be contacted at rdodd@kansan.com.
Edited by Sharla Shivers
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The Longhorns and player-of-the-year candidate Kevin Durant go into the final week 11-3 in the league, one game behind the Aggies and Jawhaws.
Texas A&M, meanwhile, must pass its own test Wednesday at No. 15 Texas.
But they're in complete control of their own destiny. After hosting the Aggies on Wednesday, Durant and his teammates will travel to Kansas on Saturday for a nationally televised tilt that will wrap up the regular season.
There will only be four No. 1's when the bracket is unveiled on March 11. But heading into this week, co-leaders Kansas and Texas A&M, ranked No. 3 and No. 7, respectively, could both put themselves in position to grab one.
Win both, and the Longhorns cannot be any worse than tipped for first. And as for the Big 12
"You could say that," said Kansas coach Bill Self, whose team had a Monday night game at Oklahoma. "But I think work still needs to be done."
813 MASS/841-8289
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - With two teams in the top seven and a leading candidate for national player of the year, Big 12 coaches figure one of those coveted and prestigious No. 1 NCAA seeds should also be in their future.
Elizaveta Avedeva, Oblinsk, Russia, junior, plays for the Kansas tennis team. Avedeva stood out last season with an 8-2 record while playing doubles with teammate Edina Horvath, Budapest, Hungary, sophomore.
Kansas, Texas A&M in running for top March Madness seeds
BY DOUG TUCKER ASSOCIATED PRESS
>> BIG 12 BASKETBALL
"I don't see why not," said Texas coach Rick Barnes. "I would like to think nothing is in cement right now. You'd like to think they haven't settled on that yet.
getting a No.1 seed?
Hold Still
02/28 OUTFORMATION
Start St. Patty's Day Early with Great Green Designs from Jayhawk Bookstore ...at the top of Naismith Hill
03/03 REV. HORTON HEAT Murder by Death The Tossers
03/04 COLD WAR KIDS
The Colour/Delta Spirit
03/05 DOORS AT 6! ANBERLIN
03:02 TRUCKSTOP HONEYMOON
Fast Food Junkies
03/05 ANBERLIN
Bayside/Meg & Dia/Jonezetta
03/10 DR. DOG
What Made Milwaukee Famous
The Teeth
03/16 BOTTLE ROCKETS
Julia Peterson & the Breaks
03/13 THE BRIDGE Exit Clove
03/28 TIM REYNOLDS
march madness!
Stop by our table at Wescoe or the Kansas Union this week to celebrate
Each day there will be different contests and prizes to win!
Wednesday FEB.28
SAA meeting at 7 p.m., Adams Alumni Center.
Men's basketball KU at OU. 8 p.m. Go Hawks!
Change for Champions kick-off, donate your change to the Special Olympics, all week.
Tuesday FEB.27
Breakfast with Big Jay at the Union from 9-10:30 a.m.
Free donuts while they last!
Free Cosmic Bowling at the Jaybowl from 7-9 p.m. with a donation to Special Olympics.
Monday
FEB.26
Breakfast with
Baby Jay at
Wescoe from
9-10:30 a.m.
Free hot cocoa
while it lasts!
Spirit Contest
1-5 p.m.
Adams Alumni
Center
Student with
best display of
KU Spirit wins
$100!
03/31 EXPLOSIONS IN THE SKY The Paper Chase/Elevium
Thursday
MARCH 1
Women's Basketball KU at Missouri 6:30 p.m.
Friday MARCH 2
UPCOMING
BOB SCHNEIDER
JJ GREY & MOFRO
Sign the
Good Luck
banner for the
Basketball
Teams located
in the Kansas
Union from
11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
and enjoy
some give-aways.
Sign the Gooq
Luck Banner for the
Basketball Teams
located on
Wescole Beach
from 11 a.m.
1 p.m. and
enjoy some
giveaways.
Crimson and Blue Day wear KU colors!
Saturday MARCH 3
For a complete listing of sites, check out
www.bottlenecklive.com
For video sites and links to band sites, visit
www.myspace/bottlenecklive
Men's Basketball KU vs. Texas. I a.m.-last home game!
Thanks for a great season in the Allen Field House. Rock Chalk Jawk!
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