`Eaters Host UC Riverside, Cal State Northridge
March 1, 2010
NO. 56 ANTEATERS HOST UC RIVERSIDE, CAL STATE NORTHRIDGE: The No. 51 UC Irvine women’s tennis team (3-4, 1-1) hosts a pair of Big West opponents in conference play this week. UCI hosts UC Riverside Friday at 1:30 p.m. and Cal State Northridge Saturday at 11:00 a.m. at Anteater Tennis Stadium.
ABOUT THE OPPONENTS: The Highlanders are 2-5 overall and 0-2 in Big West play. Nadia Sakhakorn and Taylor Raney are UCR’s top singles players.
The Matadors are 4-1 overall and 1-1 in the Big West. Brooke Doane and Nina Jaworowski lead the way for CSUN in singles.
WEEK IN REVIEW: The Anteaters lost 4-3 to Sacramento State in their lone match as their match against Washington was cancelled due to rain. Sophomore Stephanie Hammel (Placentia/Valencia HS) defeated No. 46 Katrina Zheltova in the No. 1 singles match.
ANTEATERS IN THE RANKINGS: The Anteaters are currently ranked 56th in the country by the ITA rankings and have been ranked as high as 51st this season. Stephanie Hammel is ranked 15th in singles in the Southwest Region. Brooke Bartlett is ranked 20th in singles in the region. The doubles team of Hammel and sophomore Courtney Byron (Scottsdale, Ariz./Notre Dame Prep HS) is ranked third in the region. The ‘Eaters ended the 2009 season ranked 57th nationally.
‘EATER LEADERS: Freshman Kristina Smith (Dana Hills HS) leads the team with a 6-1 record in singles. Smith and Bartlett are 5-2 on the year as a doubles team.
TOP RETURNERS: Stephanie Hammel was named Big West Freshman of the Year in 2009 as well as All-Big West first team in singles and doubles with the now graduated Heidi Kaloi. Courtney Byron was All-Big West second team in singles and honorable mention in doubles with junior Miranda Young (Newport Beach/Tufts Univ.). Brooke Bartlett was named All-Big West honorable mention in singles. Becka Kwan led all returnees with a 16-6 record in singles last season.
