UPCOMING MATCHES
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New Mexico State Aggies at #50 UC Irvine Anteaters
Date / Time: Sat. Feb. 23, 2013 / 11:00 AM
Site: Irvine, Calif. / Anteater Tennis Stadium
DROP SHOTS
The squad is now ranked 50th in the nation. The Anteaters have climbed or held their position every week this season. It's highest ranking of 2012 was 66th.
UCI's schedule turns homeward bound with the beginning of a nine-match homestand that will encompass the entire month of March.
Kristina Smith has now defeated three ranked opponents. No. 112 Kaitlin Burns of LSU joined No. 118 Klara Vyskocilova of Tulane as her singles victims. Smith and partner Franziska Goettsching took down fourth-ranked pair Guillermo/Issara of Pepperdine.
Goettsching and Smith are now the 40th-ranked doubles team in the nation.
UC Irvine has claimed the last two Big West Athlete of the Week awards via Sarah Gong and Ali Facey.
BREAK POINTS
UCI looks to reach the Big West final for the 10th time in the last 14 years.
Kristina Smith leads all active Anteaters with 61 career dual match wins and 46 career doubles wins. She is currently ninth in singles wins and 12th in doubles wins all-time.
Kristina Smith's .753 career winning percentage ranks her fourth all-time.
Kristina Smith also has 18 career wins as the No. 1 singles ranking her fifth in 'Eater history.
STRAIGHT SETS
UCI used 13 different doubles pairs in 2012. Eight of those pairs spent just one match together. The 'Eaters have used just four pairs through 10 matches in 2013.
Freshmen Sarah Gong and Sarah Stadfelt are a combined 13-4 in singles so far.
Over the last two seasons, the No. 6 singles position leads the way for the Anteaters with a 22-8 record.
UC Irvine is now 4-0 when winning the doubles point.
CHANGE OVERS
UCI's schedule features eight ranked schools including UCLA, USC twice, Pepperdine, LSU, Tulane, Wyoming, and Big West opponents Long Beach State and Hawaii. UCI is currently 3-3 against them.
Five of UCI's opponents sport ranked singles players totaling 13 players in all.
Four of UCI's opponents claim ranked doubles pairs totaling eight duos in all.
UCI players are 2-7 against ranked opponents and winless against ranked pairs so far.
FALL RECAP
UCI enjoyed a beneficial fall slate in the Cal State Fullerton Intercollegiate and UH Rainbow Invitationals.
Sarah Gong was the B Flight singles runner-up of the CSUF Intercollegiates. She finished the fall season with an 8-2 record.
Sarah Stadfelt defeated Nakisa Vahdat to claim the CSUF Intercollegiate C Flight singles title. Stadfelt finished the fall at 7-2 while Vahdat went 5-3.
Stadfelt partnered with Marivick Mamiit to win the CSUF Intercollegiate B Flight doubles championship. They went 9-0 as a duo in the fall.
Other notable fall marks were Alison Klein (5-3), Marivick Mamiit (4-3), and Ali Facey (4-3). In doubles, A. Facey/Schweyer and Klein/Vahdat each went 3-2.
NON-CONFERENCE DETOUR
The Aggies of New Mexico State have a lot of ground to make up on their schedule in the 2013 season. While UCI has played 10 matches, NMSU is only three matches into its season with a record of 1-2 and none of them have come at home.
The Aggies continue its road run with a Big West series starting at Cal State Fullerton on Friday, UCI on Saturday, and finishing at Cal State Northridge on Sunday to gain some ground. The Aggies have already faced on Big West foe losing 5-2 against Pacific earlier in the month.
The Aggies unique roster is composed of entirely of international players. Jodie Williams of England and Ginet Pinero of Venezuela are the squad's seniors that lead the charge. NMSU also touts players from Norway, France, Russia, India, and the Netherlands.
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