Fresno State takes on Cal Poly Saturday at noon and Kansas State Monday at 5 p.m.
March 14, 2013
By Stephanie Juncker
sjuncker@csufresno.edu
GoBulldogs.com
Weekly Match Notes
FRESNO, Calif. --- After beginning the season with nine out of 11 matches on the road, the No. 61 Fresno State women's tennis team will host six straight home matches over the course of four weeks. The Bulldogs' home stand begins this Saturday, March 16 at 12 p.m. against Cal Poly at the Spalding G. Wathen Tennis Center.
The 'Dogs will turn around two days later and face Big XII foe and No. 42-ranked Kansas State at 5 p.m. on Monday, March 18.
The match against the Wildcats will serve as Fresno State's Campus Kids' Day which will run from 3-5 p.m. Campus Kids' Day is FREE for youth, grades 1-8 with no experience needed. Registration runs through 3/16. If you have questions, contact Diane Brooks (brooks@norcal.usta.com/310-804-0010).
Campus Kids' Day Flyer
REGISTER HERE
About the Competition
Cal Poly (3-11) enters Saturday's match coming off a 5-2 loss to nationally ranked Loyola Marymount. The Mustangs have picked up wins over Cal State Fullerton, Cal State Stanislaus and UC Santa Cruz. The all-time series between Cal Poly and Fresno State leans in favor of the 'Dogs who lead 16-4, with the Bulldogs winning the last meeting 5-2 a season ago.
Nationally-ranked Kansas State enters the contest with the 'Dogs hungry for a win as the Wildcats have lost four straight, including back-to-back losses in conference play. The Wildcats are led by Petra Niedermayerova who has been ranked in the top 20 in singles all season and currently sits at No. 15. She is also ranked in doubles with two different partners, No. 32 Niedermayerova/Bonacic and No. 41 Niedermayerova/Kubickova. The Bulldogs have faced the Wildcats four times in history, coming out with wins in all four matches. The squads have not met since 2007 when the 'Dogs won 7-0.
McQueen Leading The Way
Senior
Melissa McQueen leads the 'Dogs this season in singles with wins in seven of the 11 dual matches. She has won six out of her last seven matches including three straight at the third spot. McQueen's performance in her final home opener garnered notice from the conference office who recognized her as the Mountain West Women's Tennis Athlete of the Week on Feb. 27.
Doubles Success
The Bulldogs have found success as of late in the doubles game with two senior-freshman duos winning three straight. Melissa McQueen and Rana Sherif Ahmed have teamed up at No. 2 and have a 6-1 record in dual matches this season. Olga Kirpicheva and Anneka Watts have found success together on court three as they are 3-0 when playing together.
As a whole the team has been very successful when winning the doubles point. Six of the seven team wins have come when capturing the doubles point.
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