Jan. 31, 2003

MANHATTAN, Kan. - The Kansas State tennis team will be looking for its second win of the season when it hosts Southwest Missouri State (SMS) at noon on Saturday in Ahearn Field House.

Up eight spots from last week in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association poll, the No. 53-ranked Wildcats are 1-0 on the season after beating then-No. 41 Brigham Young, 4-3, in the season and home opener on Jan. 24. The Lady Bears enter the match 0-2 after dropping matches at Arkansas, 6-1, and at Tulsa, 4-3, this past weekend.

Kansas State leads SMS in the all-time series, 9-3, and has won the last eight matches, including a 6-1 match last season in Manhattan. K-State will also be trying to improve its 5-0 home record vs. the Lady Bears.

Three Wildcats, sophomore Maria Rosenberg, senior Petra Sedlmajerova and freshman Jessica Simosa, sport 1-0 records at the top three singles positions. Additionally, the No. 1 doubles team of Simosa and sophomore Andrea Cooper, and the No. 2 doubles team of Sedlmajerova and junior Paulina Castillejos are 1-0.

SMS, which is coming off its first NCAA appearance a year ago, is winless at No. 1 and No. 2 singles and have 1-1 records in the remaining singles positions this spring. The Lady Bears are led by senior Ia Zozrashvili, who is 0-2 at No. 1 singles, but is ranked No. 25 in the fall Central region rankings. Junior Marta Rubina is 1-1 at No. 3 singles and is ranked No. 30 in the regional rankings.