Tennis: WVU Faces Key Road Test
March 28, 2008 12:34 PM | General
By Steve Stone for MSNsportsNET.com
March 28, 2008
MORGANTOWN. W.Va. – The West Virginia University tennis team continues its five-match road trip against Coastal Carolina University on Saturday, March 29, at 12 p.m., followed by a match at Elon University on Monday, March 31, at 2:30 p.m.
The Mountaineers (11-4, 2-1 BIG EAST) are coming off a dominating performance against Division II opponents Barton and Mount Olive after sweeping both teams by identical 9-0 scores.
WVU currently rides a six-match winning streak heading into its match at Myrtle Beach, S.C., on Saturday. Consistency in singles and doubles competition has elevated WVU during its torrid stretch in which it has won 26 singles matches and all six doubles points.
Senior Natalia Prinz has put forth a stellar season for WVU at No. 3 singles, while sophomore Stephanie LaFortune is 8-1 in singles and doubles play through WVU’s last six matches. She pairs with Monica Lyskawa at No. 2 doubles in what has been the Mountaineers’ most effective combination throughout the season.
WVU’s 11-4 overall record gives the Mountaineers its best start since the 1989-90 squad that started 12-4 and finished at 21-10.
The Lady Chanticleers (10-7, 1-2 Big South) are coming off a 6-1 defeat to Charlotte on Thursday and have never faced WVU. The Phoenix (12-7, 3-2 Southern) had a three-match winning streak snapped by Georgia State on Thursday, and has lost to four Top 75 opponents this season in North Carolina (12), North Carolina State (40), Virginia Tech (64) and Furman (71).
WVU Head Coach Marc Walters stresses the importance of the next two matches as his team prepares to face two quality opponents outdoors.
“We are trying to learn how to play outside on the fly,” says Walters. “It will be a good test for us at Coastal Carolina, and we just have to be patient and continue to work hard. Having played indoors for so long it tends to make you too patient and lazy, and outdoors makes you more physical.”
“These two teams are on par with some of the other good teams we have played. We are incrementally increasing the level of competition heading into our match against Duquesne and the rest of the BIG EAST schedule.”
