March 1, 2017
DALLAS (SMU) – The SMU women's team continues its homestand this weekend with two matches at the SMU Tennis Complex. The Mustangs will face its first American Athletic Conference opponent of the season in UCF Saturday, before welcoming Arizona to the Hilltop Sunday. Both matches are scheduled to start at 1 p.m. CT.
LAST MATCH: (W, 7-0 vs. UT Permian Basin – Feb. 26)
The SMU women's tennis team improved to 8-2 in dual matches this season after sweeping UT Permian Basin, 7-0, Sunday afternoon at the SMU Tennis Complex.
SCOUTING UCF
UCF is 10-1 with its only loss coming to No. 47 Iowa at the United States Tennis Association National Campus in Lake Nona, Florida. The Knights defeated Florida Atlantic and Liberty last week to extend their winning streak to eight matches. UCF is 2-0 on the road and its matchup against SMU will be its first match of the season outside of the state of Florida.
UCF is led by Cortney Cesarini and Monica Matias, who are both 10-1 in dual matches this season. The duo is also 10-1 in doubles play.
SERIES HISTORY:
SMU is 6-3 all-time against UCF dating back to their first meeting in 2000. The Mustangs meet the Knights for the fourth straight year and have won two of the last three meetings. UCF defeated SMU, 4-1, last season in Orlando, Florida.
UCF (6-3)
Home: 4-1, Away: 2-1, Neutral: 1-0
| 3/2/2000 |
H |
W |
5-4 |
| 4/21/2006 |
H |
W |
4-0 |
| 4/4/2010 |
H |
W |
4-0 |
| 4/2/2011 |
A |
W |
5-2 |
| 4/8/2012 |
N |
L |
4-2 |
| 4/19/2012 |
H |
L |
5-2 |
| 3/13/2014 |
A |
W |
4-3 |
| 2/21/2015 |
H |
W |
4-3 |
| 3/11/2016 |
A |
L |
4-1 |
SCOUTING ARIZONA
Arizona (8-1) will play its third team in SMU from the American Athletic Conference with the Wildcats already registering wins against Tulane and Cincinnati. The Wildcats only loss was on the road at UC Santa Barbara. Arizona will first face North Texas Saturday, before heading to Dallas for a match against the Mustangs Sunday.
The Wildcats are led by No. 27 Lauren Marker who carries an 8-0 record in duals this season. Camila Wesbrooks is also undefeated with a 7-0 record.
SERIES HISTORY:
SMU will face Arizona for just the third time in program history. The Mustangs will be looking for their first win in the series as Arizona is 2-0 all-time against SMU.
Arizona (0-2)
Home: 0-1, Away: 1-0, Neutral: 0-1
| 2/4/2006 |
H |
L |
7-0 |
| 2/25/2012 |
N |
L |
4-2 |
ORACLE/ITA DIVISION I RANKINGS
Women's National Team
Administered by the ITA
(as of February 28, 2017)
| Rank |
Avg |
School |
Previous |
| 1 |
90.26 |
Florida |
1 |
| 2 |
85.20 |
Ohio State |
2 |
| 3 |
70.41 |
North Carolina |
3 |
| 4 |
58.10 |
Michigan |
4 |
| 5 |
57.88 |
Georgia Tech |
11 |
| 6 |
55.43 |
Auburn |
8 |
| 7 |
50.08 |
California |
18 |
| 8 |
49.44 |
Texas Tech |
5 |
| 9 |
47.62 |
Pepperdine |
12 |
| 10 |
47.10 |
Duke |
17 |
| 11 |
43.19 |
Oklahoma State |
6 |
| 12 |
40.17 |
Tennessee |
24 |
| 13 |
38.85 |
Baylor |
10 |
| 14 |
38.28 |
Vanderbilt |
7 |
| 15 |
36.43 |
Kansas |
14 |
| 16 |
36.27 |
Stanford |
25 |
| 17 |
29.85 |
Arkansas |
27 |
| 18 |
29.70 |
Georgia |
13 |
| 19 |
27.04 |
South Carolina |
21 |
| 20 |
26.20 |
Texas A&M |
22 |
| 21 |
25.43 |
UCLA |
9 |
| 22 |
25.07 |
TCU |
15 |
| 23 |
24.95 |
Dartmouth |
20 |
| 24 |
24.47 |
Mississippi |
19 |
| 25 |
23.58 |
Washington |
34 |
| 26 |
23.50 |
North Carolina State |
16 |
| 27 |
22.76 |
Notre Dame |
41 |
| 28 |
20.82 |
Wake Forest |
29 |
| 29 |
16.90 |
Rice |
23 |
| 30 |
16.79 |
Kentucky |
43 |
| 31 |
16.61 |
Texas |
47 |
| 32 |
16.55 |
Southern California |
26 |
| 33 |
16.39 |
Mississippi State |
NR |
| 34 |
15.65 |
Alabama |
NR |
| 35 |
15.25 |
Arizona State |
30 |
| 36 |
14.91 |
Tulane |
NR |
| 37 |
14.44 |
LSU |
28 |
| 38 |
13.55 |
Northwestern |
32 |
| 39 |
13.08 |
Nebraska |
NR |
| 40 |
12.51 |
FIU |
38 |
| 41 |
12.33 |
Missouri |
31 |
| 42 |
12.03 |
VCU |
45 |
| 43 |
11.94 |
Maryland |
42 |
| 44 |
11.91 |
Miami |
NR |
| 45 |
11.87 |
Louisville |
49 |
| 46 |
11.64 |
UNLV |
33 |
| 47 |
11.60 |
Iowa |
48 |
| 48 |
11.44 |
Virginia Tech |
44 |
| 49 |
11.20 |
William and Mary |
39 |
| 50 |
10.95 |
Oklahoma |
NR |
2017 OUTLOOK:
SMU is led by seniors
Mary Wright,
Macie Elliott and
Dasha Sharapova after the graduation of all-conference performers
Vaszilisza Bulgakova and
Hristina Dishkova.
Gyulai has added a talented group of newcomers to the roster, including
Charline Anselmo,
Liza Buss,
Sara Jamal,
Sarai Monarrez Yesaki and
Ellie Zogg. Buss transferred from Iowa State after earning All-Big 12 second-team honors and All-Big 12 Freshman team accolades last season. Zogg was a five-star recruit out of high school and transferred from South Carolina after her freshman season last year. Anselmo, Monarrez Yesaki and Jamal are all freshman.
Gyulai is in her sixth season at the helm on the Hilltop and led SMU to 14-10 record last season and a ITA ranking as high as No. 49 (Feb. 23) during the season. Gyulai also guided SMU to the semifinals of the American Athletic Conference Championship for the second-consecutive year.
ABOUT SMU TENNIS COMPLEX:
To ensure the future success of SMU's historic tennis program, a new SMU Tennis Complex, Turpin Stadium & Brookshire Family Pavilion opened in 2015. The new complex is a preeminent, top-tier facility located prominently on the south side of Mockingbird Lane at the corner of North Central Expressway, formerly the site of Mrs. Baird's Bakery.
The new complex provides both indoor and outdoor courts as well as a training center for student athletes and coaches, ensuring that Mustang players can train year-round on campus. In addition, patron accommodations optimize comfort and viewing and include special guest amenities and a club area, providing an enhanced spectator experience.
Match-day parking for the SMU Tennis Complex is available on campus in the Binkley and Moody Parking Centers. We ask that visitors not park in the residential areas surrounding the facility or in Park Cities Plaza.
HOME SWEET HOME:
SMU will take advantage of the two-year old SMU Tennis Complex, starting their season at home with six straight matches.
From Feb. 26 to April 1, the Mustangs will play a total of 10 matches at home, including four nationally ranked opponents (Arizona, Wichita State, Georgia State, UT Arlington) from the final ITA poll from last season.
UP NEXT:
SMU continues its homestand next week against Wichita State Friday, March 10. First serve is slated for 7 p.m. CT at the SMU Tennis Complex.
FOLLOW THE MUSTANGS:
Keep up with all the latest news and information on the Mustangs by following SMU Women's Tennis on Twitter at @SMUTennis and on Facebook at Facebook.com/SMUTennisW. Twitter at @SMUMustangs or Instagram at SMU.Mustangs.
