The ASU women’s tennis team looks to continue its perfect start to the season during a two-match road trip to Florida this weekend.
The No. 21 Sun Devils (2-0) face tough competition, taking on No. 22 South Carolina (2-0) on Saturday and either No. 11 Miami (1-0) or Florida International (1-1) on Sunday.
Adjusting quickly to the humid conditions of Florida will be essential if ASU wants to beat South Carolina.
“We expect a really good match,” ASU coach Sheila McInerney said. “We’re going to have to play really well to come away with a win.”
South Carolina will be ASU’s first match against a ranked opponent this season.
“They’re a good team,” McInerney said. “They’re all international, so our kids don’t know them that well. They finished top 20 last year, and the year before they were in the lead 18.”
According to Intercollegiate Tennis Association rankings, South Carolina features several ranked players, including No. 37 junior Anya Morgina from Russia, No. 93 junior Dijana Stojic from Croatia and No. 117 freshman Katerina Popova from Russia.
South Carolina went 17-9 last year, losing in the second round of the NCAA Tournament to Florida State.
While the Sun Devils are matched up against South Carolina, FIU will play Miami. The winners of both matches will advance to play each other, and the losing will meet thereafter.
Last year Miami finished with and overall record of 20-6.
“Miami is basically a new team for us,” McInerney said. “We wanted to get out and play somebody we don’t normally play, which is why we chose this regional.
Miami also has several ranked players, including No. 16 senior Bianca Eichkorn from Germany, No. 98 junior Anna Bartenstein from Austria and No. 99 Danielle Mills from Florida.
“Micaela [Hein] played a kid from Miami last year in the NCAAs and lost to them,” McInerney said. “Miami is good. They’ve been quarterfinalists in the last three years at the NCAAs. They are the No. 1 seed this weekend.”
Hein played Eichkorn in the second round of the NCAA Tournament last season and lost her match 6-1, 6-1.
“She is a good player,” Hein said. “Her game style didn’t match up well with mine, so I had a hard time with her; but I think Kelcy [McKenna] will like her game style and should do a lot better than I did against her.”
The Sun Devils expect Miami to be the tougher team to beat this weekend.
“If any of the other girls play like Eichkorn, I know it will be a battle for sure,” Hein said.
The Sun Devils found success with their doubles pairs last weekend against UC Davis, and McInerney plans to stick with the same pairs this weekend.
McKenna and Hein will play together, senior Ashlee Brown and junior Sianna Simmons will be partners and freshman Jacqueline Cako will pair up with junior Michelle Brycki.
“Everyone is healthy, which is the key for us, and we’ve all been practicing really well,” Hein said.
Reach the reporter at nicole.klauss@asu.edu
