No. 19 Buckeyes Host No. 6 Baylor Sunday – Ohio State Buckeyes
2/26/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
Feb. 26, 2015
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• 2015 Ohio State Women’s Tennis Schedule
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COLUMBUS, Ohio – Looking for its 15th-consecutive win at the Varsity Tennis Center, the 19th-ranked Ohio State women’s tennis team (6-3, 0-0 B1G) will host No. 6 Baylor at 11 a.m. Sunday in Columbus, Ohio. The match marks Ohio State’s first match back since the home opening doubleheader Jan. 29 after an extensive road trip for the Buckeyes, who are ranked in the Top 20 of the ITA poll for the first time since 2010.
BUCKEYES HOST KIDS DAY
?Ohio State will host a pre-match clinic for all athletes 10 and under starting at 10 a.m. Registration is open through midnight Friday online HERE. Pizza will be provided following doubles. Racquet stenciling will also be available. Stick around after the conclusion of the match for a post-match autograph session with the Buckeyes. Admission to the match is free.
BLUE GRAY NATIONAL TENNIS CLASSIC REWIND?
The Buckeyes competed in the 67th Blue Gray National Tennis Classic in Montgomery Alabama Feb. 20 and 21, splitting their two matches vs. Tulane and No. 25 Texas Tech. The Buckeyes opened the tournament with a sweep of Tulane after claiming the doubles point as well as three singles wins from Sanford, Niehaus and Kowase. In a Top 25 showdown vs. No. 25 Texas Tech in the semifinals, the Buckeyes dropped a 4-1 decision. Due to inclement weather, Ohio State’s match vs. DePaul was postponed to a date later this spring.
SCOUTING BAYLOR
?Baylor began the fall campaign on a 10-match win streak before falling to No. 15 Michigan on the road, 4-1. The Lady Bears are led by No. 23 Ema Buric who has tallied a 7-2 record on court one this spring as well No. 37 Blair Shankle who has posted a 5-1 record in dual contests. The duo of Buric and Shankle is also ranked No. 13 in the country. Kiah Generette has earned a team-high eight wins in dual matches. Baylor will face another B1G foe and 33rd-ranked Northwestern Friday before traveling to the Varsity Tennis Center to take on the Buckeyes.
Ohio State is 1-1 all-time vs. Baylor. Last season, the Buckeyes traveled to Waco, Texas and fell to the Lady Bears, 4-3. At the No. 1 position, sophomore Gabriella De Santis defeated No. 38 Generette to claim her second career victory vs. a ranked opponent. Noelle Malley and Nicole Flower also posted singles wins for the Buckeyes on courts five and six.
VYING FOR HISTORY AT VARSITY TENNIS CENTER?
With a pair of wins in their home-opening doubleheader, the Buckeyes extended their home win streak to 14 matches, tying the program record set in 2002. A win vs. Baylor would set a new program record for the Ohio State women’s tennis team.
BUCKEYE BREAKDOWN
• The Buckeyes are 32-15 (.681) in singles and 13-7 (.650) in doubles in dual matches this spring.
• The Scarlet and Gray are 6-1 when winning the doubles point this spring.
• Sophomores Miho Kowase and Sandy Niehaus are tied for a team-best seven wins in singles play.
• With a 5-0 record in dual matches, freshman Olivia Sneed has tallied a perfect 12-0 ledger overall in her rookie season.
• The 24th-ranked duo of Sandy Niehaus and Gabriella De Santis are 4-3 this season.
• The Buckeyes are undefeated on court six this spring (6-0).
• Ohio State is 3-3 vs. ranked opponents this spring. The win vs. No. 19 Georgia Tech Feb. 14 marked Ohio State’s first win for a Top 20 opponent since the Scarlet and Gray defeated Fresno State, 6-1, on Jan. 30, 2010.
• Ohio State’s highest ranking in program history is No. 17, a record set by the 2009-10 squad. ?
UP NEXT
?The Buckeyes will remain at home to open their conference slate vs. Northwestern at noon March 6 in the Varsity Tennis Center.
