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The University of Utah Athletics
Women's Tennis Faces In-State Rival
6/21/1999 12:00 AM | Women's Tennis
February 17, 1999
This Week:
The University of Utah women's tennis team (1-3) hopes to get on the winning track against in-state rival Utah State (0-4), Friday, February 19 at 5:00 p.m. at the Eccles Tennis Center.
About the Aggies:
Utah State will be back on the hardcourts after dropping three consecutive matches in a tri-dual meet in Phoenix against Saint Louis, Montana and Northern Arizona. The Aggies fell 9-0, 8-1 and 9-0 respectively and are now 0-4 on the season.
About the Utes:
Junior Megan Payne, continues to be the backbone of the youthful Ute squad. She is on an eight-match win streak. Senior Molly Sanderson and sophomore Heidi Thomas, the only other upperclassmen, have recently played some of their best tennis ever. The three returning Utes have helped the progression of freshmen Hillaree Hawkins, Linn Ronnberg, Irini Kotoglou, and Brooke Wilkinson, who have all shown they can win at this level and continue to improve with each match experience. Doubles, however, has not been the Utes strong suit and the lineups will possibly be shaken up to form better chemistry.
Previously:
Last season Kansas State knew what it was like to be that close to earning a victory over the Utes, losing 5-4 to Utah at home. This year, the shoe was on the other foot as the Wildcats avenged the tight affair with a 5-4 battle at the Eccles Tennis Center. Although falling to the Wildcats, the No. 58 ranked team in the nation, the rugged Ute schedule has shown the team progressing rapidly. Megan Payne boasted a 6-1, 6-3 win at No. 1 singles over Martina Pospisilova. Molly Sanderson garnered a No. 4 singles victory, the highest spot she has played in her Ute career, over Eva Novotna, 7-6, 6-3. Sanderson showed tremendous perseverance fighting back from a 4-1 deficit in the first set. Heidi Thomas made quick work of Vesselina Jeliskova, 6-1, 6-1 at No. 6 singles. Utah had a chance to earn the match victory in doubles, but the lone doubles win came at No. 2 where Payne-Sanderson demolished Pampoulova-Novotna, 8-1. Irini Kotoglou and Thomas evened things up at No.3 doubles at 6-6, from a 5-2 deficit, before Farmer-Jeliskova earned the last two decisive points to put the match away. Hillaree Hawkins and Linn Ronnberg ran into some stellar opponents in Kathy Chuda and Anna Pampoulova at No. 3 and No.2 singles. Hawkins went down 6-0, 6-1, while Ronnberg fell 6-3, 6-2.
Player Files-
Megan Payne
Singles Record: overall (8-0), dual (4-0) Doubles Record: overall (4-2), dual (3-1) Fall Record: singles (3-2), doubles (7-2)
Linn Ronnberg
Singles Record: overall (3-5), dual (0-4) Doubles Record: overall (5-3), dual (1-3) Fall Record: singles (3-3), doubles (7-2)
Irini Kotoglou
Singles Record: overall (2-4), dual (1-3) Doubles Record: overall (2-2), dual (2-2) Fall Record: singles (1-4), doubles (3-2)
Hillaree Hawkins
Singles Record: overall (4-4), dual (1-3) Doubles Record: overall (4-3), dual (0-3) Fall Record: did not play
Molly Sanderson
Singles Record: overall (3-3), dual (2-2) Doubles Record: overall (3-3), dual (2-2) Fall Record: singles (3-3), doubles (3-2)
Heidi Thomas
Singles Record: overall (2-2), dual (2-2) Doubles Record: overall (1-1), dual (1-1) Fall Record: singles (4-4), doubles (0-0)
Brooke Wilkinson
Singles Record: overall (1-1), dual (1-1) Doubles Record: overall (1-2), dual (1-2) Fall Record: did not play
Tsumas Talks:
"We have some wrinkles to iron out, but I like our progress. We're not completely healthy right now and that has limited our immediate results in match play, but we are young and trying to accommodate the bigger picture down the road with steady improvement. Megan (Payne) is playing with a lot of confidence right now. Molly (Sanderson) and Heidi (Thomas) have stepped up and played strong matches recently."
Looking Ahead:
Utah will leave the confines of the Eccles Tennis Center for the first time this season to travel to the University of Portland and Boise State University February 27 and 28.
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