Women's Tennis | 4/5/2022 12:10:00 PM
Emporia State Women (5-6, 1-2 MIAA)
at Wichita State (6-12)
Wednesday, April 6 • 3:00 p.m. • Coleman Tennis Complex • Wichita, Kan.
at Fort Hays State (6-6, 0-3 MIAA)
Saturday, April 9 • 2:00 p.m. • FHSU Tennis Courts • Hays, Kan.
at #46 Neb.-Kearney (8-7, 1-2 MIAA)
Sunday, April 10 • 11:00 a.m. • Harmon Park • Kearney, Neb.
Complete Notes in pdf
Up Next: Women vs. #43 Northwest Missouri
Thursday, April 14 • 3:00 p.m. • Kossover Family Tennis Complex • Emporia, Kan.
Men vs. #34 Northwest Missouri
Thursday, April 14 • 3:00 p.m. • Kossover Family Tennis Complex • Emporia, Kan.
HEATING UP
The Emporia State women continue their busy April with three road matches. ESU travels to Wichita State on Wednesday before heading to Fort Hays State and #46 Neb.-Kearney.
LAST SET
Emporia State split a pair of non-conference duals with Rockhurst on Sunday.
It came down to the final set before the Emporia State women pulled out a 4-3 victory to start the day. The Hornets won the doubles point with
Paige Stranghoner and
Anastasia Pesic winning 6-2 at #2 while
Kelsie Burr and
Micaela McSpadden won 6-4 at #3 doubles. Victoria Mackova posted a 6-0, 6-2 win at #6 singles before Rockhurst got a win at #3. Stranghoner won 6-4, 6-2 at #4 singles, Pesic fell 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 at #2 and McSpadden lost 4-6, 6-0, 6-2 at #1 singles to tie the dual.
Andrea Santiago came through with a 7-5, 5-7, 6-4 win at #5 singles to give Emporia State the 4-3 win.
The Hornet men fell behind early in a 6-1 loss. Emporia State lost at both #1 and #2 doubles to give Rockhurst the point before Andy Graf and Jaden Tredway stormed back to win six straight games and take a 7-5 victory at #3 doubles. The Hawks would win the first five singles matches to clinch the overall dual. Sergio Vera posted a 4-6, 6-1, 1-0 (10-5) victory for the Hornets.
THE COACH
Les Stafford is 16-17 with the women and 14-15 with the men in dual match play in his third year as the head coach at his alma mater. He is 194-160 in 18 years overall as a head women's coach. Stafford was the head coach of the Wichita State women from 1990-2004 and was a four-time conference coach of the year for the Shockers. He went 178-143 four conference tournament championships and one regular season title. He spent 15 years as the head tennis pro at Crestview Country Club in Wichita. Stafford was a four-time NAIA National Tournament qualifier during his career with the Hornets. As a senior in 1981, he won the CSIC #1 singles and #1 doubles championship. Stafford ended his career by winning three doubles matches and one singles match in his final appearance at the national tournament.
A LOOK AT THE HORNETS
The Emporia State women are 5-6, 1-2 in the MIAA.
Micaela McSpadden has played all 11 matches at #1 singles and is 4-7 on the season.
Andrea Santiago is 6-4 on the season with a 5-4 mark at #5 singles. Victoria Mackova is 5-5 overall with a 4-4 record at #6 singles.
Anastasia Pesic and
Paige Stranghoner are 5-4 at #2 doubles with a 5-5 record overall.
Kelsie Burr and McSpadden are 3-6 overall and 3-5 at #3 doubles.
The Emporia State men are 5-5, 1-0 in the MIAA with three of their losses to nationally ranked teams. Harrison Brown has played nine matches at #1 singles. Sergio Vera is 4-0 at #5 singles and 6-2 overall. Theo Belmonte is 5-4 on the year with a 3-0 mark at #4 singles. Jaden Tredway is 5-4 on the season with a 3-3 record at #6 singles. The Hornets have used nine different combinations in doubles with Belmonte and Vera going 5-5 overall with a 3-2 record at #2 doubles.
ABOUT THE SHOCKERS
Wichita State is 6-12 and have lost eight straight. They defeated Newman 7-0 earlier this season.
SERIES HISTORY
The Shockers have won all five previous meetings with only one dual since 1980.
ABOUT THE TIGERS
Fort Hays State is 7-6, 0-3 in the MIAA heading into Friday's match with Newman.
SERIES HISTORY
The Hornets have won eight of the last ten match-ups.
ABOUT THE LOPERS
Neb.-Kearney is 8-7, 1-2 in the MIAA going into Saturday's match with Newman.
SERIES HISTORY
The Lopers have won ten of the last 12 meetings with Emporia State taking a 4-3 win in 2019.
NEXT SERVE
Emporia State will play host to Northwest Missouri on April 14 in both men's and women's MIAA matches at the Kossover Family Tennis Complex.
