Women's Tennis | 5/1/2014 9:37:00 AM
ESU Tennis
at NCAA Division II Women's Tennis Central Regional
Huether Tennis Centre • Sioux Falls, S.D.
Emporia State Hornets (16-8, 7-3 MIAA)
at Augustana Vikings (24-1, 11-0 NSIC)
Saturday, May 3 at 9:00 a.m.
Last Time: Augustana 8, at ESU 1 (April 6, 2014)
Up Next: Winner vs. either Neb.-Kearney or Northeastern State
Sunday, May 4 at 12:00 p.m.
Complete Notes in pdf •
Tournament Web Site •
Live StatsMAY MADNESS
The Emporia State women return to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2004 and the fifth time overall as they take on host Augustana in the Central Regional Tournament. The Hornets are the seventh seed while the host Vikings are the second seed. The Hornets are 5-4 all-time in NCAA Tournament play with a 5-3 record in the regional rounds.
LAST TIME OUT
In the closest dual of the entire MIAA Tennis Tournament, the Emporia State women fell 5-4 to Neb.-Kearney in the third place match on Sunday morning in Springfield, Mo.
The Hornets got wins from Nicole Jara and Tawni Griffey at #1 and Somer Schmidt and Amy Fugit at #3 to lead 2-1 after doubles play. Jara and Griffey picked up wins at #1 and #2 singles respectively only to be match by the Lopers at #3 and #4 as the Hornets had a 4-3 lead when weather conditions moved the final two matches inside. Neb.-Kearney took three set wins in both #5 and #6 singles to secure the win and third place in the MIAA.
THE COACH
John Cayton is in his ninth season as the head coach at Emporia State and tenth season as a collegiate head coach. He is 134-54 with the ESU women and 70-85 with the Hornet men for a combined record of 204-139 at his alma mater. He is a combined 230-153 in ten years as a head coach of men's and women's collegiate tennis. He was named the North Central Region Women's Coach of the Year in 2007 after leading ESU to a 16-3 overall mark, the MIAA Championship and a berth in the NCAA Sweet 16. He has taken four women's teams and two men's teams to the NCAA tournament.
EMPORIA STATE AT A GLANCE
The Emporia State women are 16-8 overall and went 7-3 in the MIAA. Four players recieved honorable mention All-MIAA honors in both singles and doubles. Nicole Jara was 9-10 on the season, but went 6-4 in MIAA play to earn honorable mention honors at #1 singles. Tawni Griffey was 17-5 overall with a 7-3 record in the MIAA to earn honors at #2 singles. The two of them combined to go 15-5 at #1 doubles with an 8-2 mark in league play to earn honorable mention status. Somer Schmidt went 13-8 on the season with a 7-3 mark in conference action and was named honorable mention All-MIAA at #5 singles. Amy Fugit had a 15-6 overall record and was 8-2 in the MIAA as she earned honors at #6 singles. The pair combined to go 17-6 with a 7-3 record in league play to earn honorable mention honors at #3 doubles.
SCOUTING AUGUSTANA
The Vikings are 24-1 overall and went 11-0 in the NSIC. They earned the right to host one of the regional tournaments as the second seed in the Central Region. They have won 15 straight duals since getting blanked by Division I St. Joseph's on March 10 in Puerto Rico.
LAST TIME VS. THE VIKINGS
Playing their second top 30 opponent in as many days, the Emporia State women fell 8-1 to Augustana at the Milton Tennis Courts. The Hornets trailed 2-1 after doubles thanks to a 9-8 win at #2 by Tawni Griffey and Tiffany Khounsombath playing in their first action together. Augie then took all six singles matches for the 8-1 win.
UP NEXT
The winner will advance to the regional final against the winner of the dual between Neb.-Kearney and Northeastern State.
