Oct. 31, 2002

MANHATTAN, Kan. - The Kansas State women's tennis team will host its second annual doubles tournament when teams from Colorado and Iowa State invade the Little Apple for the Wildcat Doubles Invitational, Nov. 2-3 on the indoor courts at Cottonwood Racquet Club in Manhattan.

"We did this (invitational) three years ago, and all of the coaches felt it was a productive experience for their teams," Kansas State head coach Steve Bietau said. "I think this is something the players enjoy and it's also fun for the spectators to watch."

On Saturday, the teams will be divided into two pools. Every team in the pool will play every other in their pool. On Sunday, the teams will be seeded according to their records in pool play. Each match will be an eight-game pro set and with a tie-breaker at eight all.

This weekend's tournament is designed to help prepare each team for the National Intercollegiate Indoor Championships held Nov. 7-10 in Dallas, Texas, and emphasize and improve doubles play.

"This tournament plays an important role in the teams' development for this spring," Bietau said. "This is the only time we will take a whole week of practice and devote it exclusively to doubles. By far it is the only time when you just get on the court and compete in doubles repeatedly. It gives us an opportunity to correct things and go right back on the court and try to see how we do."

Senior Petra Sedlmajerova and sophomore Andrea Cooper have competed as the Wildcats' No. 1 team. The duo is 3-2 this fall. Junior Hayley McIver and sophomore Maria Rosenberg have been K-State's No. 2 team and are 2-1 this fall. Freshmen Jessica Simosa has played three doubles matches this fall with McIver.

Play begins each day at 9 a.m. and admission is free. Cottonwood Racquet Club is located at 3615 Claflin Road in Manhattan.