Following back-to-back individual victories from its senior leader Desirae Krawczyk, ASU tennis now shifts its focus to team play for the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Kick-Off this weekend in Stillwater, Oklahoma.
“We’re in a totally different element playing team matches, it’s totally different than individuals,” said head coach Sheila McInerney. “Now the whole idea is to get to four (wins). No matter who wins it doesn’t really matter."
The 27th-ranked Sun Devils will face No. 26 Northwestern on Saturday to start the weekend off. The host of the competition, No. 11 Oklahoma State, will battle No. 32 Notre Dame in its first match. The event will be just one of 15 tournaments across the country associated with the ITA Kick-Off Weekend.
ASU is well-acquainted with all three of its possible opponents this weekend. The Sun Devils were eliminated from last year’s NCAA Team Championships by the OSU Cowboys in the second round, while splitting their last two matchups with Northwestern over the course of two seasons. The team last saw Notre Dame during the 2013 ITA Kick-Off, sweeping the Fighting Irish 4-0.
While the opponents may be familiar, the playing surface this weekend will certainly not be. The tournament will be held at Greenwood Tennis Center, a 50,000 square foot indoor complex. Coach McInerney said this will present a new challenge for her team.
“Indoors is different, it’s a lot quicker," she said. “We don’t get to play a lot of indoor tennis so it will be a change for us.”
The team left Thursday for Stillwater, a day earlier than usual in order to get multiple practice sessions on the indoor surface.
Although this weekend's event is a team-based competition, the impact of Krawczyk cannot be overlooked. The reigning Pac-12 player of the week is coming off wins at both the ASU Thunderbird and the Palm Springs Invite and will serve as the team's number one player in Stillwater.
This success has not only impacted Krawczyk, but it has also impacted her teammates, like junior Gussie O'Sullivan.
"It's very motivating seeing her in practice putting in the hard work," she said. "Seeing her have the success, it gives us that confidence like 'wow, she's doing so well, we can all step up to that level.'"
The Sun Devils will indeed be forced to step up without one of their top players again. Senior Stephanie Vlad will miss her second straight competition with a stress reaction in her ankle. Vlad, who will be replaced by O'Sullivan in the team's first doubles pairing with Krawczyk, suffered a setback during the week, and has been placed in a protective boot with no timetable for her return to the team, according to McInerney.
"We've only got six (players) left," said McInerney. "Everybody has to play and contribute, so you better be ready."
Related Links:
State Press Player of the Week: Desirae Krawczyk
Krawczyk finds happy homecoming with a win at Palm Springs Invitational
Reach the reporter at the mfaye@asu.edu or follow @mattGfaye on Twitter.
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