No. 41 Denver (11-3) at No. 62 SMU (8-6)
Styslinger/ Altec Tennis Complex – Dallas, TX
1 p.m. | Thursday, Mar. 23
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DALLAS- No. 62 SMU women's tennis faces its seventh top-50 opponent as it takes on No. 41 Denver on Thursday at 1 p.m. at the Styslinger/ Altec Tennis Complex.

This will be the second time in 365 days that the two programs have met. The Mustangs fended off Denver 5-2 on March 24, 2022 in Lubbock to notch its first win over DU in the two-match history.
The Mustangs enter their second of four straight ranked matchups.

The Mustangs fell to the former NCAA runner-up, then No. 22 Oklahoma on Mar. 15 in Norman. Following Thursday's matchup, SMU will travel to Fort Worth to renew its rivalry against No. 56 TCU.

SMU is well represented coming into the matchup in the ITA rankings. The Mustangs improve seven spots to the No. 62 ranked team in the nation. Hadley Doyle continues in the singles rankings at the No. 112 spot. Taylor Johnson and Jackie Nylander close out SMU's rankings as the No. 37 ranked doubles pair.

Denver poses a stiff challenge as it holds the No. 41 ranking in the nation. Taylor Melville is the lone member represented in the ITA rankings for DU. Melville comes in as the No. 69 ranked singles player.

The Mustangs will return to the Styslinger/ Altec Tennis Complex two more times this season after the rescheduling of No. 39 San Diego on Apr. 14.  

INSIDE THE MATCH
The Mustangs pose a nearly perfect home record going 7-1 with its lone loss coming from then No. 28 Texas Tech on Mar. 5.

SMU picked up its second home conference matchup after blanking Tulane, 4-0 on Mar. 12.  

SMU and Denver have met twice prior to Thursday's matchup. DU took the first meeting with a 4-3 victory then the Mustangs responded with a 5-2 victory in the last matchup.

Series History: Denver
All time: Tied 1-1
Home Records: 0-1
Away Records: 0-0
Neutral Records: 1-0
First Meeting: 4-3, Denver Mar. 6, 2004 in Dallas
Last Meeting: 5-2, SMU Mar. 24, 2022 in Lubbock
Current Winning Streak: W1 SMU
 
MUSTANG MARK
No. 112- ranked Hadley Doyle was named the AAC Women's Player of the Week (Feb. 14) after defeating the nation's No. 56-ranked player in three sets. Doyle had a straight set victory against Richmond to improve to a 22-7 overall record in the 2022-23 season.

In doubles, Doyle holds an 9-3 record with partner Lana Mavor. The duo clinched the doubles point against Tulane with a 6-4 victory on Court 3. Throughout the 2022-23 season the duo has a 16-3 overall record.
 
Lana Mavor holds a 10-2 record throughout the 2023 season. Mavor has clinched the singles point in four of SMU's three victories (Incarnate Word, VCU, USF and Richmond). Mavor picked up the second and final point for the Mustangs against No. 23 ASU in three sets victory on Court 6. Mavor picked up the Mustangs second point against No. 1 Texas with a straight set victory at No. 6. The senior has gone 23-6 in singles play in the 2022-23 season.
 
Drew Morris, the AAC Women's Tennis Player of the Week (Jan. 24), holds a 9-2 singles record throughout the spring season. Morris picked up the second singles win for the Mustangs against Richmond with straight set victories on Court 4. Morris' only loss throughout the season came from the No. 109- ranked player. Morris led the Mustangs to wins over Abilene Christian and Incarnate Word in their home opener. Morris picked up the Mustangs first victory over No. 1 ranked Texas. Morris added two more wins to her belt over the ITA Kickoff Weekend over Wisconsin and VCU. Since fall 2022, Morris is 22-7 in singles action.
 
Jackie Nylander had her first match-clincher of the 2023 season with a straight set victory on Court 4 against Tulane.
 
Taylor Johnson has won the past two home matches in straight sets against Richmond and Tulane. Johnson has improved to 5-4 throughout the dual season and an 15-8 overall record since fall 2022.
 
The No. 37 ranked doubles duo of Jackie Nylander and Taylor Johnson picked up their fifth win against USF with a 6-1 victory. The pair picked up the biggest win of their career together by defeating the nation's No. 7-ranked team of ASU in a dominate fashion. The SMU pair only gave up two games in a 6-2 victory. The duo is now 5-3 in doubles play on Court 1 throughout the spring season.
 
SCOUTING THE OPPONENT
No. 41 Denver is coming off their third loss this season after falling 5-2 to No. 59 Baylor on Mar. 21 in Waco.

UP NEXT
SMU travels 30 minutes West to Fort Worth to take on No. 56 TCU in the 50^th matchup between the two programs at 1 p.m. at the Bartzen Varsity Courts.  

SMU IN THE ITA RANKINGS

ITA Team Rankings (March 21 ranking)

62 SMU

Women's Singles (March 21 ranking)

112 Hadley Doyle

Women's Doubles (March 21 ranking)

37 Taylor Johnson/ Jackie Nylander

ITA Team Rankings (March 14 ranking)
 
69 SMU
 
ITA Team Rankings (March 7 ranking)
 
59 SMU
 
Women's Singles (March 7 ranking)
 
98 Hadley Doyle SMU
 
Women's Doubles (March 7 ranking)
 
28 Taylor Johnson/ Jackie Nylander SMU
 
ITA Team Rankings (February 28 ranking)
 
48 SMU
 
ITA Team Rankings (February 21 ranking)

44 SMU

Women's Singles (February 21 ranking)

89 Hadley Doyle SMU

Women's Doubles (February 21 ranking)

24 Taylor Johnson/Jackie Nylander SMU

Women's Singles (November 16 ranking)
 
113 Hadley Doyle SMU
 
Women's Doubles (November 16 ranking)
 
32 Taylor Johnson/Jackie Nylander SMU
 
38 Winslow Huth/Lana Mavor SMU