UMKC Steps Away From Summit League Play to Battle NWMSU
3/25/2012 9:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
THIS WEEK
The UMKC women's tennis team (8-7) heads to Maryville, Mo. for a contest against Northwest Missouri State on Monday. The match is a precursor to four more conference duals this weekend in Fort Wayne, Ind. UMKC has won four in a row coming into the outing.
THE OPPONENTS
» UMKC vs. Northwest Missouri » Mar. 26, 2012 » 3 p.m.
Northwest Missouri comes into the weekend with a 4-4 overall record after defeating East Central by an 8-1 score last Saturday. They are led by No. 2-3 players Alexis Bartek and Erika Leston, who boast 5-2 and 4-4 overall records. No. 4-5 player Kim Ho also has a 5-3 overall mark. UMKC is 1-3 all-time against Northwest Missouri, with its lone win coming last year, 6-1.
CONFERENCE START
UMKC finished last weekend with a 4-0 record in conference play. It marks the first time in school history the 'Roos have started 4-0 in conference action.
LOAD 'EM UP
UMKC's current roster boasts the top four all-time winners in school history in Laura Bouet, Jillian Yakominich, Eva Dalvai, and Suzan Lisenby. The group includes three juniors and a senior (Yakominich).
The roster also has six of the top nine doubles players in school history, with the four mentioned players, along with senior Jessica Ball and sophomore Gabby Pintos.
HEAD COACH KENDELL HALE
Kendell Hale is in his fifth season as the head coach of the UMKC women's tennis program. Overall, the 2011-12 season is Hale's 18th as a collegiate head coach, and compiled a 317-214 overall combined record coming into 2012. He has a current 38-58 mark with the women. Hale has coached seven all-league selections and was selected at the 2009 USPTA Missouri Valley College Coach of the Year.
In 2011, Hale guided the 'Roos to a school record 12 victories and a 6-2 mark in Summit League play. UMKC finished third in the regular season standings to qualify for the league tournament for the second straight year, and made it to the championship match for the first time in school history.
Before joining the UMKC coaching staff, Hale spent 11 years as the head coach at Rockhurst University, where he led the Hawks to nine NCAA Tournament appearances.
Players Mentioned
