April 28, 2006
WACO, Texas - After a complete make over of the Big 12 Championship bracket, the Bears weathered rainy and windy weather to defeated #64 Kansas 4-0 at the Baylor Tennis Center. The match was originally scheduled for 1 p.m. on all six Baylor Tennis Center courts but instead the Bears played at noon on courts one, three, and five. Matches were moved to earlier in the morning and singles were played first to help finish today's schedule before any rain could force teams to travel to indoor courts.
With the win over the Jayhawks, the Bears extended their record to 23-3 overall this season.
Baylor took the courts and immediately took control of the match. Senior Daniela Covello executed her game plan in order to breeze through Kansas' Christine Skoda on court three. Covello earned Baylor's first point with her 6-1, 6-2 win. Soon after on court one, sophomore No. 5 Zuzana Zemenova gave the Bears their second point as she defeated Ksenia Bukina 6-0, 6-1 in another quick match. No. 15 Zuzana Cerna moved Baylor even closer to advancing to the semifinals. Cerna picked up a swift first set before sealing Baylor's third point with her overall 6-1, 6-4 defeat over Elizaveta Avdeeva on court two.
Once a match was finished the next player in the lineup would warm up and start playing on the available court. For Baylor, that meant Klara Zrustova, Iva Mihaylova, and Zuzana Krchnakova took to the courts after their teammates wrapped up their matches. No. 97 Zrustova, playing the No. 4 spot, was the first to finish as she claimed Baylor's win by besting Lauren Hommell 6-1, 6-2. Mihaylova and Krchnakova retired their matches once Baylor tallied the fourth and final point. No doubles play was necessary.
"I was impressed with the way we came out. We were very focused, and we took care of business. To win 15 of the 16 first games is an incredible start. If we can do that tomorrow, that will be great. Today we won and played smart. If we continue to do that, we will do well," said head coach Joey Scrivano.
Baylor's win advances the Bears to the semifinals where Nebraska becomes their next competitor. Baylor leads the series between the two programs 11-0. Including a 6-1 win during this spring's regular season, the Bears have defeated the Cornhuskers in eleven-straight matches. Baylor has faced Nebraska only once before in the Big 12 Championship. In 2001's quarterfinals, the Bears blanked Nebraska 4-0.
In the Intercollegiate Tennis Association's rankings, Nebraska has two singles players listed, No. 94 Kim Hartmann and No. 114 Imke Reimers. No doubles team are ranked for the Cornhuskers.
Saturday's semifinals match between Baylor and Nebraska is scheduled for 4 p.m. at the Baylor Tennis Center. Live scoring will be available at www.baylorbears.com. Full championship results are also available on baylor's website.
#5 Baylor (No. 1 seed), 4 def. #64 Kansas (No. 8 seed)
April 28, 2006 - 12 p.m.
Big 12 Championship - Quarterfinals
Waco, Texas - Baylor Tennis Center
Singles
Order of finish: 3, 1, 2, 4*
1. #5 Zuzana Zemenova (BU) def. Ksenia Bukina (KU) 6-0, 6-1
2. #15 Zuzana Cerna (BU) def. Elizaveta Avdeeva (KU) 6-1, 6-4
3. Daniela Covello (BU) def. Christine Skoda (KU) 6-1, 6-2
4. #97 Klara Zrustova (BU) def. Lauren Hommell (KU) 6-1, 6-2
5. Iva Mihaylova (BU) vs. Edina Horvatch (KU) Did not finish
6. Zuzana Krchnakova (BU) vs. Stephanie Smith (KU) Did not finish
Doubles
Order of finish: Did not Play.
1. #44 Cerna/Zrustova (BU) vs. Bukina/Avdeeva (KU) DNP
2. Covello/Mihaylova (BU) vs. Hommell/Horvatch (KU) DNP
3. Zemenova/Krchnakova (BU) vs. Skoda/Yulina Svistun (KU) DNP
