By: by T.J. Greggs
SPARTANBURG, S.C. - The Kennesaw State women's tennis team begins its quest for the Atlantic Sun Conference regular season title when they take on USC Upstate at the Spartan's campus on Friday afternoon.
The A-Sun opener has the Owls (3-3) entering on a two-match winning streak after defeating Alabama State and Alabama A&M last weekend in Montgomery. The Spartans (2-0) also enter the match with two straight wins as they topped Presbyterian and Georgia Southern.
"This will be a solid test for our program," commented Owls head coach Brandon Padgett. "We know what to expect from their team, and are going to be ready to fight until the last point is played."
The Spartans, who were picked to finish fourth in the A-Sun preseason rankings, face off with the Owls, picked sixth, in a budding rivalry for two of the newest teams to the conference. Both teams have made successful transitions from the Division II level in the past few years after having much success on the regional and national level.
USC Upstate, much like the Owls, has a young, talented squad. The top two players for the Spartans, Monica Pezzotti and Francisca Valderrama, are both freshmen. Meanwhile, the Owls will counter with Vera Shkundina, a 17-year old sophomore, and freshmen Iesha Holton, at the top two positions.
Last season, the Spartans defeated the Owls by a 6-1 margin, but three of USC Upstate’s top four players from that team have since graduated, while the Owls graduated only one player from the 2008-09 squad.
Match time is set for 1:00 p.m. at the USC Upstate Tennis Complex. The Owls will then return home for a Sunday non-conference double header with North Carolina Central and Savannah State. The home opener for the Owls is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. with a 1:00 p.m. match to follow. Admission is free and parking is available on Sunday in KSU’s East Parking Deck.
