Rams look to rebound at neutral site
Following a rough start to open the 2004 tennis season, the CSU
women’s tennis team will look to rebound Friday at the Air Force
Academy in Colorado Springs against Texas Tech of the Big 12
Conference.
The team kicked off its Spring 2004 campaign with back-to-back
loses in Lincoln, Neb. The team faced stiff competition Saturday
from Big 12 opponent Nebraska, losing 5-2. They matched that same
losing effort the following Sunday falling to the University of
Illinois-Chicago.
“I think there is a lot we still need to work on,” said head
coach Jon Messick, “our (Nos.) 5 and 6 slots really need to play to
their abilities and step it up.”
Despite the disappointing start, freshmen standouts Charity
Malone and Emily Kirchem played well in both singles competition
and as doubles teammates.
Also playing well was No. 1 singles player senior Dasha Zuhrin,
who closed out the weekend with a 1-1 record.
“Dasha has been playing really well, she’s been working hard and
should have a very successful spring,” Messick said.
Problems with singles play include the 3,5 and 6 spots, as all
lost twice over the weekend.
“We really need better play out of our singles lineup,” Messick
said. “Those girls can play much better than they did and compete
at a far higher level.”
On the doubles side of things, the freshmen tandem of Malone and
Kirchem had the lone doubles victory over UIC winning at the four
spot with a commanding score of 8-1.
“Doubles play has been a problem for us in the past, but I think
they all played pretty well together and lost some close matches,
they have improved a lot and have become more competitive,” Messick
said.
The Rams now look to improve their 0-2 record against the Red
Raiders. The Rams are 0-3 all-time against Texas Tech (1-0) and
last faced the team in the 1998-99 in Lubbock, Texas, where the
Rams lost 3-6. The girls will make the trip to a neutral site at
the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs and hope to build off of
last weekend’s performance.
“This is a very talented team with a lot of good athletes,
there’s just some adjustments that need to be made,” Messick
said.
Colorado State will face the Texas Tech Red Raiders for the
fourth time in a dual match. The Rams are 0-3 all-time against the
Red Raiders. The last time the Rams faced Texas Tech was in the
1998-1999 season in Lubbock, Texas, where CSU fell 3-6.
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.