`Eaters Host Nebraska, New Mexico State
March 15, 2010
NO. 62 ANTEATERS HOST NEBRASKA, NEW MEXICO STATE: The No. 62 UC Irvine women’s tennis team (6-5, 3-2) host No. 54 Nebraska Sunday at 11:00 a.m. at Anteater Tennis Stadium. The team will then host New Mexico State Monday at 11:00 a.m. at the Racquet Club of Irvine.
ABOUT THE OPPONENTS: The No. 54 Huskers are 12-1 overall entering the week and face Long Beach State before arriving in Irvine. Mary Weatherholt and Madelieine Geibert are NU’s top singles players.
The Aggies are 6-7 on the year. Sophia Marks and Manon Sylvan play No. 1 and No. 2 singles and team up as a doubles team for NMSU.
WEEK IN REVIEW: The Anteaters went 1-1 on the week with a 6-1 victory at Cal State Fullerton and a 5-2 loss to UCSB. Freshman Kristina Smith (Dana Hills HS) led the team with 2-0 record in singles and a 2-0 record in doubles.
ANTEATERS IN THE RANKINGS: The Anteaters are currently ranked 62nd in the country by the ITA rankings and have been ranked as high as 51st this season. Stephanie Hammel is ranked 80th in the country in singles and is ranked 9th in singles in the Southwest Region. The doubles team of Hammel and Courtney Byron is ranked sixth 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 10-1 record in singles. Courtney Byron and Brooke Bartlett are 6-4 in singles. Smith and Bartlett are 6-2 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.
