Busy Weekend Awaits UMKC Men's Tennis
1/29/2009 10:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
THIS WEEK
The UMKC men's tennis team has a busy week ahead, as the squad will play three matches at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo. The Kangaroos open play with a neutral site match against Gonzaga on Friday before facing the host Falcons on Saturday. The squad will then round out the weekend with its second neutral site match against Northern Colorado on Sunday.
THE OPPONENTS
Gonzaga, which opens the season at home against Lewis-Clark State in Spokane on Jan. 28, finished with a 6-12 overall record in 2008. The Bulldogs are led by returnees Roman Dojcak and Stefan Feddersen, who posted records of 10-8 and 10-6, respectively at the top two singles positions a season ago.
Air Force brings an 0-4 record into the matches this weekend, as the squad dropped decisions to Eastern Washington (5-2) and Denver (7-0) on Jan. 24-25. Austin Francis has been competing at the No. 1 line for the Falcons, where he has posted a 1-3 record.
Northern Colorado, who was picked to finish seventh in the Big Sky this season, is 0-1 in dual matches on the year. The Bears dropped a 7-0 decision to Eastern Washington on Jan. 25. Last season, UNC posted a 1-15 overall record with its only win coming against fellow Summit League foe South Dakota State.
LAST WEEK
The Kangaroos opened the season by splitting a pair of matches in Las Vegas, Nev., on Jan. 24. The squad lost its season-opener to UNLV (6-1) before defeating Weber State (4-1). UMKC won the doubles point against the Rebels, and it picked up four singles wins to claim the victory over Weber State.
RISTIVOJEVIC NAMED SUMMIT LEAGUE MEN'S TENNIS ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Sophomore Serge Ristivojevic was named The Summit League Men's Tennis Athlete of the Week after posting a 2-1 overall record in both singles and doubles in a pair of matches last week in Las Vegas. The Australia native opened the dual season by helping the Kangaroos claim the doubles point against UNLV. In the second match, the sophomore cruised to a 6-1, 6-1 victory at the No. 3 line in leading the ?Roos to the 4-1 win over Weber State.
SCHWARZ/QUINTANILLA RALLY TO LEAD UMKC TO “W”
Juniors Dennis Schwarz and Erwin Quintanilla each rallied back from a set down to claim three-set victories in the 4-1 win over Weber State. Schwarz dropped a tight 7-6 decision against Travis Covington at the No. 5 line in the first set before going on to claim the match, 6-1, 6-3. Quintanilla also fell in set one, 7-6, to Cole Peterson. The Bolivia native, however, went on the claim the final two sets, 6-4, 6-2, to help UMKC clinch its first win of the season.
ITA SUCCESS
Sophomore Serge Ristivojevic and freshman Gustavo Guerin had a strong performance at the Wilson/ITA Central Region Championships in October. Ristivojevic advanced to the Round of 16 in singles and in doubles, while teaming with Guerin. The Australia native is believed to be the first Kangaroo player to advance to the Round of 16 at an ITA event.
THREE ALL-SUMMIT LEAGUE HONOREES RETURN FOR ?ROOS
UMKC returns three student-athletes that received all-Summit League honors last season in junior Patrick Smith, sophomore Serge Ristivojevic and junior Dennis Schwarz. Smith and Ristivojevic were first team all-league honorees, while Schwarz earned second team all-league honors for the seconds consecutive season.
KANGAROOS PICKED TO FINISH THIRD IN SUMMIT LEAGUE PRESEASON POLL
The UMKC men's tennis team was picked as the runner-up in The Summit League Preseason Coaches Poll. The Kangaroos received a league-best three first place votes en route to a total of 31 points. Oral Roberts was tabbed as the league favorite after finishing with 32 points, which included a pair of first place tallies.
HEAD COACH KENDELL HALE
Head Coach Kendell Hale is in his second season as the head coach of the UMKC men's and women's tennis program. In his first season with the Kangaroos, Hale guided the men's program to a third place Summit League finish with a 4-2 mark. Three student-athletes earned all-league honors under Hale's watch.
Before joining the UMKC staff, Hale spent 11 years as the head coach at Rockhurst University, where he led the Hawks to nine NCAA Tournament appearances.
The UMKC men's tennis team has a busy week ahead, as the squad will play three matches at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo. The Kangaroos open play with a neutral site match against Gonzaga on Friday before facing the host Falcons on Saturday. The squad will then round out the weekend with its second neutral site match against Northern Colorado on Sunday.
THE OPPONENTS
Gonzaga, which opens the season at home against Lewis-Clark State in Spokane on Jan. 28, finished with a 6-12 overall record in 2008. The Bulldogs are led by returnees Roman Dojcak and Stefan Feddersen, who posted records of 10-8 and 10-6, respectively at the top two singles positions a season ago.
Air Force brings an 0-4 record into the matches this weekend, as the squad dropped decisions to Eastern Washington (5-2) and Denver (7-0) on Jan. 24-25. Austin Francis has been competing at the No. 1 line for the Falcons, where he has posted a 1-3 record.
Northern Colorado, who was picked to finish seventh in the Big Sky this season, is 0-1 in dual matches on the year. The Bears dropped a 7-0 decision to Eastern Washington on Jan. 25. Last season, UNC posted a 1-15 overall record with its only win coming against fellow Summit League foe South Dakota State.
LAST WEEK
The Kangaroos opened the season by splitting a pair of matches in Las Vegas, Nev., on Jan. 24. The squad lost its season-opener to UNLV (6-1) before defeating Weber State (4-1). UMKC won the doubles point against the Rebels, and it picked up four singles wins to claim the victory over Weber State.
RISTIVOJEVIC NAMED SUMMIT LEAGUE MEN'S TENNIS ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Sophomore Serge Ristivojevic was named The Summit League Men's Tennis Athlete of the Week after posting a 2-1 overall record in both singles and doubles in a pair of matches last week in Las Vegas. The Australia native opened the dual season by helping the Kangaroos claim the doubles point against UNLV. In the second match, the sophomore cruised to a 6-1, 6-1 victory at the No. 3 line in leading the ?Roos to the 4-1 win over Weber State.
SCHWARZ/QUINTANILLA RALLY TO LEAD UMKC TO “W”
Juniors Dennis Schwarz and Erwin Quintanilla each rallied back from a set down to claim three-set victories in the 4-1 win over Weber State. Schwarz dropped a tight 7-6 decision against Travis Covington at the No. 5 line in the first set before going on to claim the match, 6-1, 6-3. Quintanilla also fell in set one, 7-6, to Cole Peterson. The Bolivia native, however, went on the claim the final two sets, 6-4, 6-2, to help UMKC clinch its first win of the season.
ITA SUCCESS
Sophomore Serge Ristivojevic and freshman Gustavo Guerin had a strong performance at the Wilson/ITA Central Region Championships in October. Ristivojevic advanced to the Round of 16 in singles and in doubles, while teaming with Guerin. The Australia native is believed to be the first Kangaroo player to advance to the Round of 16 at an ITA event.
THREE ALL-SUMMIT LEAGUE HONOREES RETURN FOR ?ROOS
UMKC returns three student-athletes that received all-Summit League honors last season in junior Patrick Smith, sophomore Serge Ristivojevic and junior Dennis Schwarz. Smith and Ristivojevic were first team all-league honorees, while Schwarz earned second team all-league honors for the seconds consecutive season.
KANGAROOS PICKED TO FINISH THIRD IN SUMMIT LEAGUE PRESEASON POLL
The UMKC men's tennis team was picked as the runner-up in The Summit League Preseason Coaches Poll. The Kangaroos received a league-best three first place votes en route to a total of 31 points. Oral Roberts was tabbed as the league favorite after finishing with 32 points, which included a pair of first place tallies.
HEAD COACH KENDELL HALE
Head Coach Kendell Hale is in his second season as the head coach of the UMKC men's and women's tennis program. In his first season with the Kangaroos, Hale guided the men's program to a third place Summit League finish with a 4-2 mark. Three student-athletes earned all-league honors under Hale's watch.
Before joining the UMKC staff, Hale spent 11 years as the head coach at Rockhurst University, where he led the Hawks to nine NCAA Tournament appearances.
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
Sunday, September 27
Sunday, September 27
Friday, September 25
Monday, September 21