April 2, 2003

MANHATTAN, Kan. - The Kansas State tennis team tries to keep pace in the Big 12 Conference race when it hosts No. 37 Colorado at noon Saturday at the Washburn Tennis Facility on the K-State campus.

The Wildcats (9-4, 4-2) enter the match in fourth place in the Big 12 standings, while the Buffaloes (9-5, 2-4) are in ninth. K-State trails Texas (7-1), Baylor (6-1) and Texas A&M (5-2) in the standings. Kansas State has five remaining matches, including matches against Texas A&M (April 18) and Texas (April 20).

The 39th-ranked 'Cats, who improved 10 spots in the latest Omni Hotels Intercollegiate Tennis Association rankings, are on a three-match winning streak. K-State swept last weekend's matches with Iowa State (7-0) and No. 34 Missouri (5-2). Colorado enters the match having won one of its last three matches. The Buffaloes beat nonconference foe Colorado State, 6-1, Tuesday, but had lost to Big 12 opponents Texas (5-2) March 22 and Texas A&M (5-2) March 23.

Colorado leads the series with Kansas State, 16-8, but the Wildcats have won three of the last four meetings, including a 5-2 match last season in Boulder. Senior Petra Sedlmajerova, sophomore Maria Rosenberg, junior Paulina Castillejos and sophomore Andrea Cooper all registered singles victories in the match.

K-State will also attempt to improve its 1-8 home record vs. the Buffs. The last time the 'Cats beat Colorado in Manhattan was 2001.

For the Wildcats, reigning Big 12 Player of the Week junior Hayley McIver has strung together four consecutive wins and victories in seven of her last eight matches at No. 5 singles. She is 9-3 in dual matches, 5-1 in the Big 12 and 18-9 overall. McIver will face a formidable opponent in Colorado's Jessica Vanderdys. The freshman has a 4-2 league record and is 7-1 at No. 5 this year.

Cooper has also put together an impressive winning streak, winning six consecutive matches and nine of her last 10. She is 9-2 in dual matches, 4-1 in the Big 12 and 15-8 overall this season playing, primarily No. 6 singles.

Kansas State improved its doubles play the last two matches, winning five of the six matches. Leading the way for K-State are Sedlmajerova and Castillejos, who have won three of their last four matches. The Wildcats' No. 2 doubles team is 6-3 in dual matches and 2-4 in the league.

Colorado is led by senior Dominique Lemperle, who is ranked No. 113 in the ITA rankings. She is 8-6 in dual matches, 2-4 in the Big 12 and 17-8 overall at No. 1 singles. Lemperle teams with fellow classmate Lia Dimingo for a 4-7 dual record, 2-4 league mark and 12-10 overall record at No. 1 doubles.