BACK INTO GEAR

The No. 33-ranked Kansas State women's tennis team plays host to the KSU Invitational on Jan. 23-25, a week prior to its official start of the 2003-04 spring season with home dual matches scheduled versus No. 53 Mississippi on Jan. 30 at 4 p.m. and Wichita State on Jan. 31 at 3 p.m. All matches played at Ahearn Field House in Manhattan, Kan.

A LOOK AT THE TOURNAMENT FIELD AND FORMAT

Participants from K-State, Creighton and No. 38 Missouri round out this weekend's three-day tournament field, which is highlighted by two flights of singles and one flight of doubles competition. Doubles action will begin Friday at 3 p.m., followed by 9 a.m. starts on Saturday and Sunday in singles and doubles play. Results will be posted on www.k-statesports.com.

WILDCAT TRIO AMONG CENTRAL REGION TOP 30

In the latest Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) regional rankings, three Wildcats were ranked among the top 30 singles players in the Central Region - junior Maria Rosenberg (12th), sophomore Jessica Simosa (22nd) and senior Paulina Castillejos (29th).

SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS

Missouri, which finished 15-8 overall and 6-5 in Big 12 Conference play last season, returns the nation's No. 30-ranked singles player in senior Urska Juric, who hails from Placar, Slovenia. Juric and teammate Katka Sevcikova also currently rank 30th nationally in doubles. The Tigers (lost to Notre Dame in the first round) and Wildcats (lost to USC in the round of 16) both advanced to the NCAA Tournament in 2002-03.

2003-04 ITA NCAA DIVISION I WOMEN'S TEAM RANKINGS (as of Jan. 13)

Team Votes

1. Florida (24) 1721

2. Stanford (9) 1706

3. California 1681

4. Duke 1658

5. Georgia 1630

6. USC 1610

7. Washington 1580

8. William & Mary 1564

9. North Carolina 1541

10. Tennessee 1518

11. UCLA 1490

12. Vanderbilt 1472

13. Harvard 1449

14. Northwestern 1426

15. Kentucky 1403

16. Clemson 1381

17. Virginia Commonwealth 1356

18. South Alabama 1334

19. Arizona State 1311

20. Fresno State 1288

21. Notre Dame 1265

22. Miami (Fla.) 1242

23. Illinois 1219

24. Texas A&M 1196

25. Tulane 1173

33. Kansas State 992