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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.
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.
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