'Roos To Host Creighton In Kansas City On Friday
2/25/2009 11:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
THIS WEEK
After nearly a month off, the UMKC men's tennis team will return to the courts for a Friday morning match against Creighton. The Kangaroos and Bluejays will square off at the Woodside Racquet & Health Club beginning at 11 a.m. UMKC was originally scheduled to host SIU Edwardsville outdoors at the Plaza Tennis Center on Saturday, but the match was canceled due to the impending weather forecast.
LAST COMPETITION
The Kangaroos cruised to their fourth straight victory with a 7-0 sweep of Northern Colorado on Feb. 1 in Colorado Springs. UMKC won the doubles point to open the match before claiming all six singles match in straight sets to secure the victory.
THE OPPONENT
Creighton brings an 0-1 record into Friday's match, as the squad fell to fellow Summit League foe Western Illinois in its season opener on Feb. 17. The Bluejays picked up singles victories by Gabe Nagy, James McAvoy and Mike Elson in the match.
STARTING THE SEASON WITH A BANG
UMKC has won four consecutive matches, which is the longest winning streak for the program since the 2004-05 season. The team's 4-1 start, meanwhile, is the best start to a season for the ?Roos since the 1999-00 campaign, when the squad started the year with a 5-2 mark.
FOUR ?ROOS BRING WINNING STREAKS INTO THIS WEEKEND'S MATCHES
Four UMKC student-athletes will bring extended winning streaks into this weekend's matches against Creighton and SIU Edwardsville. Serge Ristivojevic, Erwin Quintanilla and Dennis Schwarz have all won four straight singles matches, while Patrick Smith is currently riding a three-match winning streak.
In doubles, UMKC has a pair of duos that have posted perfect 4-0 records this spring in Bret Berryman/Smith at the one line and Gustavo Guerin/Ristivojevic at the No. 3 position. The two duos have contributed to the ?Roos claiming the doubles point in all five matches on the year.
?ROOS EARN SUMMIT LEAGUE MEN'S TENNIS ATHLETE OF THE WEEK HONORS
Sophomore Serge Ristivojevic was named The Summit League Men's Tennis Athlete of the Week on Jan. 28 after posting a 2-1 overall record in both singles and doubles in a pair of matches in Las Vegas to open the season. 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.
Junior Patrick Smith became the second straight Kangaroo to earn league Athlete of the Week honors on Feb. 3. He earned the accolade after posting a perfect 6-0 combined record in singles and doubles in three matches in Colorado as UMKC went on to three straight team victories over Gonzaga, Air Force and Northern Colorado.
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.
After nearly a month off, the UMKC men's tennis team will return to the courts for a Friday morning match against Creighton. The Kangaroos and Bluejays will square off at the Woodside Racquet & Health Club beginning at 11 a.m. UMKC was originally scheduled to host SIU Edwardsville outdoors at the Plaza Tennis Center on Saturday, but the match was canceled due to the impending weather forecast.
LAST COMPETITION
The Kangaroos cruised to their fourth straight victory with a 7-0 sweep of Northern Colorado on Feb. 1 in Colorado Springs. UMKC won the doubles point to open the match before claiming all six singles match in straight sets to secure the victory.
THE OPPONENT
Creighton brings an 0-1 record into Friday's match, as the squad fell to fellow Summit League foe Western Illinois in its season opener on Feb. 17. The Bluejays picked up singles victories by Gabe Nagy, James McAvoy and Mike Elson in the match.
STARTING THE SEASON WITH A BANG
UMKC has won four consecutive matches, which is the longest winning streak for the program since the 2004-05 season. The team's 4-1 start, meanwhile, is the best start to a season for the ?Roos since the 1999-00 campaign, when the squad started the year with a 5-2 mark.
FOUR ?ROOS BRING WINNING STREAKS INTO THIS WEEKEND'S MATCHES
Four UMKC student-athletes will bring extended winning streaks into this weekend's matches against Creighton and SIU Edwardsville. Serge Ristivojevic, Erwin Quintanilla and Dennis Schwarz have all won four straight singles matches, while Patrick Smith is currently riding a three-match winning streak.
In doubles, UMKC has a pair of duos that have posted perfect 4-0 records this spring in Bret Berryman/Smith at the one line and Gustavo Guerin/Ristivojevic at the No. 3 position. The two duos have contributed to the ?Roos claiming the doubles point in all five matches on the year.
?ROOS EARN SUMMIT LEAGUE MEN'S TENNIS ATHLETE OF THE WEEK HONORS
Sophomore Serge Ristivojevic was named The Summit League Men's Tennis Athlete of the Week on Jan. 28 after posting a 2-1 overall record in both singles and doubles in a pair of matches in Las Vegas to open the season. 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.
Junior Patrick Smith became the second straight Kangaroo to earn league Athlete of the Week honors on Feb. 3. He earned the accolade after posting a perfect 6-0 combined record in singles and doubles in three matches in Colorado as UMKC went on to three straight team victories over Gonzaga, Air Force and Northern Colorado.
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
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