Women's Tennis travels to CU and WSU this weekend
04/06/2012 | 12:00:00 | Women's Tennis
April 6, 2012
By Tim McCaughan
SIUSalukis.com
CARBONDALE, Ill.- The Southern Illinois women's tennis team travels to Creighton on Saturday and nationally ranked Wichita State Sunday.
Weekend Notes:
Bluejays (9-6, 0-2 MVC)
Shockers (12-5, 1-0 MVC) Rank: 68
Sundays match against the Shockers will be broadcasted live by RadioTennis.com starting at 9 a.m.
Looking ahead to Creighton
The Bluejays come into this weekend with an overall record of 9-6, and are 0-2 in MVC play. Seven of their nine wins have come at home where they are 7-3 on the season. Taylor Koehrson and Kelsey Schmidt lead Creighton both with 10-5 singles records this spring. The duo of Amanda Noonan and Elizabeth Vermillion lead the Jays in doubles play with a record of 8-2.
Scouting the Shockers
The Shockers come into Sundays match 12-5 overall, and 1-0 in MVC play, defeating Creighton 7-0. The Shockers are a perfect 6-0 at home this season, and are currently on six match win streak. Wichita comes into this weekend ranked No. 68 in the nation. The Shockers have played five ranked opponents, defeating only No. 51 ranked North Texas, 4-3. Lutfiana Budiharto leads the Shockers in singles play, where she is 13-3 on the season primarily at the No. 1 position.
Building Momentum
The Salukis come into this weekend at 11-3, and 1-0 MVC play, as well as 4-0 away from home this season. SIU is 0-1 versus ranked opponents this season, that loss coming from No. 55 Memphis just last weekend. "The match was a lot closer than the score indicated, " said head coach Audra Nothwehr. "They are very good, and this gives us confidence headed back into conference play, I think we played them tough."
Doubles Consistency
The Salukis are 32-10 in doubles play this spring, lead by Natasha Tomishima and Jennifer Dien who are 10-2 primarily at the No. 2 spot. Korey Love and Melanie Delsart are not far behind with a 7-3 record at the No. 1 position.
Delsart Streaking of Late
Junior Melanie Delsart has been the most consistent player this season, with a 11-3 singles record, at the No. 1 slot. Delsart has defeated eight straight opponents, including Tiffany Welcher of Memphis who is ranked No. 119 nationally in singles. "I am not playing at 100 percent physically, but I am playing better mentally than my opponents, and that is why I am winning," said Delsart.
Players Mentioned
