Tennis hosts SFA Saturday
3/25/2011 7:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
On paper, the dual match appears to be a dead heat pitting two of the most evenly matched teams in the league against each other.
"Saturday has the potential to be a great match," Sam Houston head coach Jim Giachino said. "Both team's records mirror each other. Both teams are relatively young. The winner is going to be the squad who wants it the most."
Sam Houston and Stephen F. Austin both own identical 3-1 Southland dual match records to put the Bearkats and the Lumberjacks in a four-way tied for third place in the current league standings. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and Northwestern State also own 3-1 mark.
A look at common opponents also shows how close the teams are.
Sam Houston defeated McNeese State 5-2, Nicholls 5-2 and lost to Lamar 1-6. SFA beat McNeese 5-2, Nicholls 6-1 and lost to Lamar 0-7.
"The doubles point is going to be crucial Saturday," Giachino said. "Taking that first point and going into single needing to win just three will be important."
Sam Houston's doubles teams consist of the Russian duo of Nadia Dudyanskaya and Tatyana Postnikova at number one, Sheridan Currie and Cally Woerner at two and Imke Jagau and Natalie Petaia at three.
Sam Houston has won its last nine women's tennis meetings with Stephen F. Austin. The last time the Jacks defeated the Bearkats in tennis was a 6-1 SFA victory in 2001 in Huntsville.
Admission to Sam Houston tennis at the McAdams Tennis Center is free.
