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2022-23 Shocker Women's Tennis

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  • 2022-23 Shocker Women's Tennis

    Fall Preview: Shockers Mix Youth with Experience

    https://goshockers.com/news/2022/9/6...xperience.aspx

    Foster's new additions include a pair of freshmen -- Kristina Kudryavtseva and Theodora Chantova – and Texas A&M graduate transfer, Jessica Anzo.

    The Shockers will have experience up and down the lineup this year with four players, including Anzo, entering their fourth seasons of collegiate tennis. Holdovers Natsumi Kurahashi and LingWei Kong held down the top-two spots in the singles rotation last spring while Harriet Hamilton recorded a team-high 20 wins. In addition, Clara Whitaker is back for her second year.

    Though her three years in College Station were marred by injuries and the COVID-19 pandemic, Anzo had great success on the court with a 30-10 singles record and a 37-14 mark in doubles action while playing for an Aggie team that ranked consistently inside the top-15. The former five-star recruit won the 2019 ITA Texas Regional doubles title and earned national rankings with two different partners.

    "Jessica brings a wealth of experience from her days playing in the uber-competitive SEC and has a renewed appreciation for the sport," Foster said. "She missed her entire senior year at Texas A&M due to injury but has recovered and had a successful summer competitively."

    Anzo graduated from A&M last spring. Extended family in the Wichita area and the opportunity to enroll in a nationally-recognized sport management program led the California native to Wichita State.

    Kudryavtseva – from Moscow, Russia – begins her first season of college tennis but is battle-tested. She's been listed as high as No. 267 in the world junior rankings.

    "Kristina is someone I had previously recruited," Foster said. "She had originally decided to test the professional waters while retaining her eligibility but – with COVID-19 reducing the number of playing opportunities worldwide – reconsidered her options. I'm glad we kept in touch over the years, as she will make an immediate impact on our program. I'm excited to get her on campus and begin working with her."

    Foster is also excited about the potential upside of Chantava – a 6-foot-1 freshman from Grevena, Greece.

    "Theodora is someone I noticed several years ago while I was in Greece recruiting a different player," Foster said. "I got back in touch with her as she was starting the recruiting process and instantly was impressed with her professionalism, character and maturity. Theodora is already an accomplished player. She has the physical makeup but -- more importantly -- the determination to continue developing, and I know she will make significant strides in our program."

    Fall 2022 Women's Tennis Tournament Schedule:
    Sep. 9-11 – ITA Fall Circuit @ WSU – Wichita, Kan. – Sheldon Coleman TC
    Sep. 11-18 -- PTT $25k Lawrence – Lawrence, Kan. – Jayhawk Tennis
    Sep. 23-25 – Tulsa Invite – Tulsa, Okla.
    Oct. 7-9 – SMU Invitational – Dallas, Texas
    Oct. 13-17 – ITA Central Region Championships – Stillwater, Okla.
    Nov. 4-6 – Hurricane Invite – Tulsa, Okla.

    Interesting group of newcomers.

    Texas A&M Grad Transfer Jessica Anzo, a former five-start recruit, might pay instant dividends. I am assuming she has at least 2 years of eligibility remaining.

    Russian import freshman Kristiana K was ranked as high at No. 267 in the world junior rankings. That is pretty decent. Hopefully, she will come to be known as Special K.

    Greek import freshman Theodora Chantava will not be hard to pick out of a team photo standing at 6-1. I don't think the Shocker women have had very many, if any, players as tall as that.
    Last edited by 1972Shocker; September 19, 2022, 05:05 PM.

  • #2
    Texas A&M Grad Transfer - Jessica Anzo

    Comment


    • #3
      Originally posted by 1972Shocker View Post
      Texas A&M Grad Transfer - Jessica Anzo

      Looks like you're on top of things...

      "Texas A&M Grad Transfer Jessica Anzo, a former five-start recruit, might pay instant dividends. I am assuming she has at least 2 years of eligibility remaining."

      "You Just Want to Slap The #### Outta Some People"

      Comment


      • #4
        Doubles Teams Find Getting More Wins Means Getting More Aggressive

        STILLWATER, Okla. – Wichita State lost six of its nine doubles matches last weekend in Dallas, but head coach Colin Foster liked what he saw. Or at least parts of it. Enough to convince him to stick with the same combinations.


        Lady Shocks with a pretty decent showing this weekend at the ITA Central Regions Championships in Stillwater. The doubles play seemed to make the most progress. After going 3-6 last week in Dallas in doubles matches the Shockers doubles teams combined to go 5-2 with wins over two of the tournament's top seeds, and the duo of Lingwei Kong and Natsumi Kurahashi reached the quarterfinal round to become the first Shocker duo to reach the quarterfinals at this event since 2014.

        Comment


        • #5
          Foster Strengthens Lineup with Semester Addition



          Head coach Colin Foster announced the midseason addition of German standout Marlene Förster to the Shocker roster. She'll be a freshman this spring with four seasons of edibility remaining.

          Foster said:

          "Marlene has a wealth of international playing experience with many strong results. She is eager and hungry to build on a solid foundation and work toward professional tennis. Her recruitment went quickly, but she immediately clicked with the coaching staff and her future teammates. We're excited to get her on campus in January."

          Attended Fritz Erler, an upper secondary school in her hometown of Pforzheim that specializes in business education… Played for her school's tennis team and in a number of international events on the junior ITF circuit… Best finish came in July, 2021 when she knocked off a pair of U18 opponents ranked 56th and 199th in the world to reach the third round of the J3 Neunkirchen

          Not sure how good of tennis payer she will prove to be but sure looks like a schatzi (my wife's german nickname).


          Comment


          • #6
            The Shocker tennis team began a tough 10-match string away from home today taking on rival Tulsa in Tulsa. Tulsa was the #3 seed the past two years in the AAC and was the runner-up in both years at the AAC Championships.

            The Shocks fell into deep hole early losing the doubles point and losing in straight sets at the #1 and #2 singles. The Shocks were able to pull of hard fought 3 set victories in the #4, #5 and #6 singles but lost a 3 setter at the #3 singles as Tulsa took the match 4-3.

            The Shocks play Louisiana Tech tomorrow at Tulsa.

            TULSA, Okla. -- The Wichita State women's tennis team came within a bounce of besting Tulsa on its home court but instead fell by a 4-3 margin Saturday afternoon at the Michael D. Case Tennis Complex


            Comment


            • #7
              Shockers Take Down No. 49 Nebraska

              LINCOLN, Neb. -- Harriet Hamilton won a decisive three-setter at No. 6 singles to lift Wichita State to a 4-3 road win over No. 49 Nebraska Friday evening at the Dillon Tennis Center.


              "This was an incredible match," head coach Colin Foster said. "We didn't play well at every spot but competed so hard. All eight played a role in this team win. It's so great to know that we can get four points from any of the spots. We've got solid players and great depth up and down the lineup."

              The Shockers (7-5) lightened their load by winning the doubles point and put themselves in prime position with straight-set victories by Lingwei Kong and Natsumi Kurahashi Nos. 1 and 2 singles.

              Nebraska (10-2) won a three-setter at No. 5 singles and briefly drew even at 3-3 when Samantha Alicea nipped Jessica Anzo in a pair of tiebreakers at the No. 3 spot, 7-6 (5), 7-6 (5).

              Enter Hamilton, who bounced back from a first-set loss to Nebraska's Jillian Roa to win her No. 6 singles match, 4-6, 6-1, 6-3, and tip the scales in WSU's favor.


              This was a nice win for the Lady Shockers. Tough weekend for Nebraska teams vs the Shockers losing this match and 2 games to the Lady Shocker sofball team.

              Nice to see this for the Lady Shocker racketeers as they had a tough year last year finishing the year with only 5 healthy players and not able to field a full roster for their final eight matches of the 2022 spring season.

              Comment


              • #8
                After the Lady Shocks knocked of #49 Nebraska this past Friday the moved into the rankings (top 75 teams are ranked) at #62. Looks like that ranking will be short-lived as the Shocks lost 1-6 in Ft. Meyers to future AAC member Florida Atlantic on Tuesday and, while more competitive, they lost today to #59 South Florida in Tampa by a 3-4 score. At least the weather was just a bit nicer in Tampa today than in Wichita. Sunny, 80 with wins gusting to 7 mph.

                Shockers Gain Ranking But Fall Short at FAU

                USF Tops Shockers in Battle of Ranked Squads


                The Shocks will stop at Tulane on the way back to Wichita for a match on Sunday.

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                • #9
                  All 11 AAC members sponsor women's tennis teams. The Shockers are the #5 seed.

                  The bottom six teams (the 6th through 11th seeds) played today. The winners, Memphis (6), Houston (7) and Temple (9), advance to play the top 3 seeds tomorrow while the 5th seed Shockers will take on the 4 seed Tulsa tomorrow at 8:00 am CDT. The Shocks lost to Tulsa by a 4-3 score back on February 18th. So the possibility of the Shockers making the semi-finals is there.

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                  • #10
                    No upset for the Lady Shockers. Tulsa won 2 of the 3 doubles matches to secure the doubles point and then won the #1, #4 and #5 singles to clinch the match at 4-0.

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Infinity Art Glass - Fantastic local artist and Shocker fan
                      RIP Guy Always A Shocker
                      Carpenter Place - A blessing to many young girls/women
                      ICT S.O.S - Great local cause fighting against human trafficking
                      Wartick Insurance Agency - Saved me money with more coverage.
                      Save Shocker Sports - A rallying cry

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                      • #12
                        Go Shockers - Women's Tennis Ranked Ninth in Central Region in ITA's Collegiate Tennis Rankings

                        After concluding a season with an overall record of 12-10, including going a perfect 7-0 in home matches, the Wichita State women's tennis team found themselves ranked ninth in the Central Region when the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) unveiled the NCAA Division I Women's Tennis rankings on Friday afternoon.

                        The Shockers ended the season on a hot streak, winning five of their final six matches prior to the AAC tournament. The late winning streak included a clean sweep over AAC opponent Cincinnati, which propelled the Shockers into the #5 seed in the AAC tournament, their highest seeding in the tournament since the 2019 season where they were also a five seed.

                        Coach Colin Foster's group collected its first win over a ranked opponent in nearly two years when they defeated 49th ranked Nebraska 4-3 on Friday, March 10th in Lincoln. The win boosted the Shockers to a national ranking of 62nd, the first ranking for the women since the 2019 season.

                        WSU finished ranked ninth in the ITA's Central Region rankings, the team's first top-10 finish in the region since 2019. The Shockers are ranked one spot ahead of Missouri and one behind AAC rival Tulsa. Iowa State was ranked #1 in the region, while Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Kansas, and Arkansas rounded out the region top-5.
                        Infinity Art Glass - Fantastic local artist and Shocker fan
                        RIP Guy Always A Shocker
                        Carpenter Place - A blessing to many young girls/women
                        ICT S.O.S - Great local cause fighting against human trafficking
                        Wartick Insurance Agency - Saved me money with more coverage.
                        Save Shocker Sports - A rallying cry

                        Comment

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