'Roos Look to Match School Record Win Total, Face SBU Tuesday
4/2/2012 5:23:00 PM | Women's Tennis
THIS WEEK
The UMKC women's tennis team (11-9, 6-2 SL) wraps up regular season play this week with four matches, two at home during the week, and two on the road this weekend. The 'Roos will celebrate senior day this Friday against UNO. The ceremony will take place between doubles and singles play. UMKC will be going for its third straight year of breaking the school record for wins in a season, as the 2011 team owns it at 12.
THE OPPONENTS
» UMKC vs. Southwest Baptist » Apr. 3, 2012 » 3 p.m. (CT)
Southwest Baptist comes in boasting a 15-1 overall record and are ranked No. 14 in NCAA Division II. The Bearcats have five players with at least 12 wins, including No. 16 ranked Mehak Singh, who is 15-0 on the season. Fanni Varga also has a 14-1 overall mark. The Kangaroos are 2-1 against the Bearcats all-time, and won last year's meeting 5-2.
» UMKC vs. Nebraska-Omaha » Apr. 6, 2012 » 9 a.m. (CT)
UNO, entering its first year in Division I, has a 3-9 overall record entering the week. The Mavericks play three matches before facing UMKC on Friday. They are led by No. 1 player Alex Tran, and Kelsie Olson at the No. 2 position. This is the first ever contest with UNO.
» UMKC vs. UALR » Apr. 7, 2012 » 10 a.m. (CT)
UALR enters the week with an 11-11 overall record, facing Arkansas State before the 'Roos this Saturday. The Trojans are paced by No. 1 player Viktoriya Plyuta with a 10-12 overall record, while No. 2 player Veronique Luksich boasts a 14-7 overall mark. The Kangaroos are 0-1 vs. Arkansas-Little Rock, dropping a 4-3 decision last season.
» UMKC vs. Central Arkansas » Apr. 8, 2012 » 10 a.m. (CT)
Central Arkansas is 6-12 coming into the week, with two matches this week before facing the 'Roos. They are paced by No. 2-3 position performers Allison Murphy and Kristina Horsikyan with 8-9 marks, while Kazumi Otani is 8-8. The 'Roos are facing UCA for the first time ever.
RECORD WATCH
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.
As a team, the 'Roos are closing in on the school record of 12 victories, sitting at 11 now.
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 41-60 mark with the women. Hale has coached seven all-league selections and was selected at the 2010 USPTA National Coach of the Year for his turnaround effort at UMKC.
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
