Colorado State University Athletics
CSU Tennis Heads to Lubbock, Texas
2/15/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
Feb. 15, 2007
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After having last weekend off, the Colorado State tennis team will face Texas Southern on Saturday and #51 Texas Tech on Sunday, both in Lubbock, Texas.
The Rams are currently 1-2 in dual matches in the 2007 season; with a win over Eastern Washington, and losses to Drake and #65 Nebraska. The Rams have performed in excellent fashion in doubles play this spring. They hold a 7-2 dual match record, including a sweep against Drake on Feb. 3rd. At No. 1 doubles, Emily Kirhcem/Hilary Tyler are currently 2-0 in doubles play; with wins over Drake and #65 Nebraska. While the Rams have struggled to secure team wins in singles competition in the last two outings, they do hold a 9-9 dual record, with Anette Pohjalainen and Laura Neal both 3-0 in singles play.
Texas Tech holds a 3-2 dual record with wins over Alabama, Prairie View A&M, and UTEP, and losses to #42 Oregon and #41 New Mexico. The Red Raiders are led by junior Janet Durham who comes into this weekend with an undefeated 5-0 record in singles and is currently 4-1 in doubles play. No. 1 singles player, sophomore Samantha van der Drift, has a 4-0 singles record and holds a 4-1 record in doubles.
Record Watch
Kirchem is currently 5th all-time in career singles victories with 67 wins and only 11 away from taking over the number one spot. She is also 7th in career singles dual victories, needing 14 to take over first place. Kirchem currently holds 57 career doubles victories and is four wins away from taking over as all-time leader in career doubles victories at CSU. With her two doubles victories over Drake and Nebraska last weekend, Kirchem is now tied for first in career doubles dual victories.
CSU Falls to #65 Nebraska
Lincoln, Neb.-The Rams lost to nationally-ranked Nebraska on February 4th, 4-3.
In doubles, at No.1, Tyler/Kirchem beat Reimers/Ring, 8-4; Kirchem improved to 2-0 in doubles matches in 2007. At No.2, Neal/Strasburger were defeated by Kuhl/Swarting, 8-5. At No. 3 doubles, Stople/Pohjalainen earned a victory over Cicmanec/Finnegan, 8-4. The Rams were awarded one team point.
In singles, at No. 1, Lauren Strasburger fell to Imke Reimers, who is ranked #30 nationally, 6-3, 6-1. At No. 2, Laura Neal beat Diana Kuhl, 7-5, 1-6, 1-0 (4), and improved to 3-0 on the season. At No. 3 singles, Hilary Tyler was defeated by Wiveca Swarting, 6-0, 7-6 (5). At No. 4, Anette Pohjalainen was victorious over Maria Ring, 6-4, 6-3, and moved to 3-0 in singles competition. At No. 5, Kirsten Stople lost to Marianne Cicmanec, 6-1, 6-3. Finally, at No. 6 singles, Rui Zu fell to Ashley Finnegan, 6-2, 6-2. The Rams finished singles 2-4.
"It was another close loss, but everybody played well against a nationally-ranked team," head coach Jon Messick commented. "We showed we are capable of winning; in our heads, we know we are capable of beating those (nationally-ranked) teams."
