Michigan State University Athletics
Women's Tennis To Face Louisville And Toledo This Sunday
2/1/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
Feb. 1, 2006
EAST LANSING, Mich. - The Michigan State women's tennis team will host Louisville and Toledo this weekend. Play begins at 9:00 a.m. on Feb. 5, when MSU (5-1) faces No. 75 Louisville (4-1). In the afternoon, the Spartans take on the Toledo Rockets (2-1) starting at 4:00 p.m. These will be the last two matches Michigan State will play at home before taking to the road on Feb. 11.
Scouting the Competition:
The No. 75 ranked Louisville Cardinals come into East Lansing with a 4-1 record, falling only to No. 13 Kentucky. The Cardinals are led by freshman Maria Klokotzky who is 3-1 at the No.1 singles spot. Louisville's roster features only one senior and five freshmen. Louisville coach Greg Davis earned his 200th career win when Louisville beat Arkansas State, 4-0, last weekend.
Toledo boasts a roster with three returning seniors. Toledo shares a common opponent with Michigan State in Cleveland State, whom the Rockets beat, 6-1. Toledo is led by senior Eunice Paravicini, who played her way through the singles qualifying portion of the ITA Regional tournament at Michigan State earlier this year. During that run, Paravicini beat MSU freshman, Ana Milosavljevic (Johannesburg, South Africa).
"I think both teams will be a good test for us," said coach Tim Bauer. I expect highly competitive matches on every court and a good chance for us to really show off our team. I'm really looking forward to the competitiveness and the playing of highly intelligent tennis."
Last Time Out:
The Spartans improved their record to 5-1, last weekend by defeating Bowling Green State and Eastern Michigan. Friday night, against Bowling Green, Michigan State notched a 6-1 victory, sweeping all three doubles matches by a score of 8-4. In singles play, the Spartans only loss came when freshman Marianne Eelens (Noord, Aruba) fell to Kelsey Jakupcin in straight sets.
Michigan State downed Eastern Michigan University the following day, again by a score of 6-1. Junior Jessica Baron (Miami, Fla.), freshman Stephanie Kebler (Okemos, Mich.) and No.1 singles player, sophomore Christine Bader (Okemos, Mich.) all won their second doubles and singles matches of the weekend to help seal the victory.
Player of the Week Honors:
Sophomore Christine Bader was recognized as the women's tennis Big Ten Athlete of the Week last week for her performance two weeks ago against Cleveland State and Detroit Mercy.
Bader won both her singles matches in straight sets, while her and doubles partner Sarah Andrews (Darwin, Australia) defeated their opponents by a combined score of 16-2, in two victories.
Spartan Rookies:
MSU's freshmen have continued their strong play from the fall into the early spring season. Last week, Ana Milosavljevic earned a victory at the No. 6 singles spot after losing her first set. Milosavljevic defeated Laura Fernandez, 6-7 (5), 7-5, 6-4, for her second singles win of the year. Milosavljevic has also posted an 8-3 record this year with freshman doubles partner Marianne Eelens.
Stephanie Kebler has also played well in her first season as a Spartan. Playing at the No.4 and 5 singles spot this spring, Kebler has compiled a 5-1 record. Her and doubles partner, Jessica Baron also have a 5-1 record this spring.
Before the start of the spring semester, the Spartans added another freshman in Aglaya Kokurina (Tashkent, Uzbekistan). Kokurina made her first appearance in competitive play for MSU last weekend when she defeated Stephanie Menoff, 6-3, 6-2 at the No. 6 singles spot. The next day she defeated Catherina Bestahorn, 6-1, 6-0, playing in the No. 5 spot.
On the Road:
The women's tennis team will travel for the first time this year when they head to Oxford, Ohio on Feb. 11 to meet Miami (Ohio). The Spartans will play the RedHawks at 1:00 p.m. The following day, Michigan State will play Ball State in Muncie, Ind., with play beginning at noon.
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