Thursday, April 12
Dallas, TX
5 P.M.
SMU
vs
North Texas
Mustangs Close Dual Match Season Against North Texas, ULM
Apr 10 | Women's Tennis
DALLAS (SMU) - SMU Women's Tennis (12-8, 3-4 American) wraps up dual match season this week with matchups against North Texas on Thursday, April 12, and Louisiana-Monroe on Saturday, April 14. The matches are slated to begin at 5 p.m. and noon, respectively.
The Mustangs carry a four-match win streak into the week after picking up a 4-1 win over conference rival Houston on Saturday. Karina Traxler earned her 12th win of the spring with a straight set victory over No. 103 Tsveta Dimitrova at the top position. She grows her win streak to four matches while teammate Liza Buss has won her last five consecutive decisions.
SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
The Mustangs last met the Mean Green during January's Metroplex Mania tournament, where Mustangs took two of three doubles matchups but just two of seven in singles against UNT. As the season closes, UNT holds a 7-12 record with only one win on the road. One player represents the Mean Green in the Oracle/ITA Rankings: No. 57 Maria Kononova.
The Warhawks close out dual match season against SMU with 10-6 record and half of their wins played on the road. Most recently, ULM defeated Sun Belt Conference rivals Texas State and Arkansas State. Senior Stefana Andrei leads ULM in wins and is undefeated heading into the last match of the season.
SERIES HISTORY
The Mustangs hold a dominant 10-2 record against the Mean Green with seven wins and no losses on home courts. In last season's matchup, UNT defeated SMU 6-1 in Denton, the Mustangs' first loss in the series since 1998.
Against ULM, the Mustangs are 2-5 with both wins at home. The series dates back to 1995, but the Mustangs and Warhawks did not play between 1998 and 2011. In 2017, ULM defeated SMU in a tight 4-3 match in Dallas.
TRAXLER WINS AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE PLAYER OF THE WEEK HONORS (APRIL 10)
Junior Karina Traxler was named the American Athletic Conference Women's Tennis Player of the Week on April 10. The award comes after Traxler helped the Mustangs earn wins against UT Arlington and Houston. The Rockwall, Texas native went 2-0 at No. 1 in the two matches, including a straight set victory over No. 103 Tsveta Dimitrova of Houston. She also earned a doubles win at the top position against UT Arlington with partner Sarai Monarrez Yesaki for the duo's tenth win. With the victories, she improved to a team-best 12-5 in dual match season and 19-7 in the overall in her first season on the Hilltop. She carries a four-match win streak into the final two matches and has won 9 of her last 11 decisions.
PLAYING HOST – AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP
For the first time in program history, SMU will host the American Athletic Conference Women's Tennis Championship on April 18-21 at the SMU Tennis Complex and the Crum Tennis Courts. The Tournament will begin on Wednesday at 9 a.m. and end with the championship match on Saturday at 12 p.m. The men's championship will run simultaneously with the women's championship at the same sites.
LAST TIME OUT
Junior Karina Traxler impressed with a straight set victory against her No. 103-ranked opponent in SMU's 4-1 win over Houston (17-3) Saturday at the SMU Tennis Complex. The Mustangs (12-8) stretch their win streak to four matches with wins in six of their last seven.
The Mustangs fell behind early after losing the doubles point for just the seventh time this season, but SMU rallied in singles to win all four points in straight sets.
After Ana Perez-Lopez and Liza Buss dropped No. 2 doubles, 6-3, Anzhelika Shapovalova and Tiffany Hollebeckpaired to win their eight match of the season on court three, 6-2. Karina Traxler and Sarai Monarrez Yesaki kept their match close against No. 81 Tsveta Dimitrova and Sveva Mazzari but ultimately fell 6-4 to surrender the first point of the match.
In singles play, Buss began SMU's rally with a 6-2, 6-0 win at No. 2, her fifth win in as many matches. Perez-Lopez defeated Alison Mills, 6-2, 6-0, to give the Mustangs the lead.
Nicole Petchey added a point at the bottom of the lineup with a 6-3, 6-1 win at No. 6. Traxler clinched the match with a 6-3, 6-3 win over No. 103 Tsveta Dimitrova. The junior improves to a team-best 12-5 in dual match season with two wins at the top position.
LOOKING AHEAD
The Mustangs begin play in the American Athletic Conference Championship on Wednesday, April 18. Match times will be drawn based on conference seeding order.
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