March 26, 2002

MANHATTAN, Kan. - The Kansas State tennis team picks back up with its Big 12 Conference schedule and starts a four-match homestand when it hosts No. 27 Baylor at 3 p.m. on Friday at the Washburn Tennis Facility in Manhattan.

The No. 40 nationally-ranked Wildcats are 8-4 overall and 3-1 in the Big 12 this season, while Baylor enters the match 11-4 overall and 3-1 in league play.

Kansas State looks to stay in the top portion of the Big 12 standings. The Wildcats have dropped two of their last three matches, but have won two of the last three league matches.

Baylor enters the match itching for a win after losing 6-1 to No. 16 Texas on March 23. The Lady Bears and the Wildcats are currently in a tie for fourth place in the conference standings and both teams are coming off losses.

The Lady Bears lead the series with the Wildcats, 5-3, but Baylor is winless in two meetings with the 'Cats in Manhattan. In last year's match, K-State lost Baylor, 5-2, in Waco. Kansas State last beat Baylor on March 18, 2000 in Manhattan.

For the Wildcats, freshman Maria Rosenberg (Manhattan, Kan.) remains as the only 'Cat undefeated in Big 12 singles play. She stands at 4-0 in league play and has an 8-3 spring record overall at No. 4 singles.

Senior Alena Jecminkova, who is ranked No. 102 in the latest Omni Hotels Collegiate Tennis Rankings (ITA), is 3-1 in league play at No. 1 singles and sports a 7-5 spring overall record in the top spot for the Wildcats.

Junior Petra Sedlmajerova is also 3-1 in Big 12 action. At No. 3 singles, Sedlmajerova is 8-2 this spring and has won nine of her last 11 matches.

In doubles, the No. 2 team of senior Kathy Chuda and Sedlmajerova are 9-3 overall this spring and have won eight of their last 10 matches. In conference action, the duo is 3-1.

Baylor has two singles players and its No. 1 doubles team ranked in the latest Omni Hotels ITA rankings. Senior Katja Kovac is ranked No. 59 and she owns the team's best overall singles record this year at 21-9. She is 7-6 this spring at No. 1 singles and has a 3-1 Big 12 record. Kovac has won four of her last five matches.

Junior Vida Mulec moved from No. 71 to No. 66 and sports an 11-2 spring overall record and 4-0 mark in the league at No. 2 singles. Mulec is on a three-match winning streak.

Kovac and Mulec also are the Lady Bears' No. 1 doubles team which is ranked No. 49. The duo is 7-6 overall this spring, 2-2 in the Big 12 and 13-8 overall this season. Kovac and Mulec have lost three of their last four matches.