Friday, April 12
Seattle, WA
1:30 PM
University of Washington
vs
USC
Photo by: Red Box Pictures
Six Reasons to Watch No. 15 Washington Women's Tennis This Weekend
April 11, 2019 | Women's Tennis
SEATTLE --- The No. 15 Washington women's tennis team is off to the best start in program history and hosts a pair of key Pac-12 matches this weekend. First up, the Huskies welcome in No. 13 USC on Friday at 1:30 p.m. and close out the home portion of its 2019 schedule against No. 10 UCLA on Sunday at Noon. USC and UCLA are both tied with Washington at 6-1 in conference play with the Trojans 16-3 overall and UCLA 14-5.
Looking for a reason to make the trip to Montlake to catch the women's tennis team in action? How about six?
1. The Huskies are off to their best start in program history
Washington has been impressive throughout the season, posting a 16-2 overall record and a 6-1 mark in Pac-12 play. The overall record is the the best through 18 matches in program history and on pace with two of the Huskies' most successful seasons. In 2003, the Huskies were 15-3 through 18 matches and finished 19-4, reaching the NCAA Round of 16. The next season, UW again went 15-3 through its first 18 matches and went all the way to the NCAA Quarterfinals.
Even more impressive about this year's team is that its lone two losses came against teams ranked in the NCAA Top 5 (#2 Vanderbilt and #5 Stanford). However, the Huskies do have some big victories over ranked teams, beating No. 14 North Carolina State at the ITA Team Indoor Championships and No. 7 Kansas State in a non-conference dual in Seattle on March 1.
2. Washington is just one conference win away from a program record
UW already has matched a program-best with six Pac-12 wins and still has three conference matches to go. Since the Pac-12 combined the north and south divisions in 1998, Washington's best Pac-10/12 record had been 6-2, done in 2001 and again in 2003. In those seasons, the Huskies made deep runs in the NCAA Tournament including reaching the NCAA Quarterfinals in 2001. Since posting five Pac-12 wins in 2004, Washington didn't win more than three conference matches again until winning four in 2016 and five in 2017 and 2018. Since 2015 when Head Coach Robin Stephenson took over, the Huskies are 23-24 in Pac-12 matches--the most conference wins in a five-year stretch in program history.
3. With a win, UW could be in good position to host the NCAA First Round for the first time since 2004
The Huskies are sitting in a nice spot with three matches to go, looking to be a near lock to make the NCAA tournament for the second time in three years after failing to reach the tournament from 2011-2016. However, with a win or two this weekend, the Huskies could also put themselves in good position to host the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament for just the fourth time in program history and the first time since 2004. UW is 6-0 in six previous tournament matches in Seattle all coming between 2001 and 2004.
4. Senior Day Sunday
The Huskies will be honoring their two seniors during Sunday's match against UCLA: Stacey Fung and Kenadi Hance. Hance has been a key member of the team during her four seasons at UW, posting a 66-47 overall record in singles matches including a 17-7 mark this season. Fung has been the Huskies No. 1 singles player throughout the season after becoming the team's first All-American since 2011 last year and is currently ranked No. 98 in singles and No. 26 in doubles.
5. Don't worry about rain, we can play inside!
With rain in the forecast, the matches are likely to be played in the Nordstrom Tennis Center just north of Husky Stadium and east of Alaska Airlines Arena. The facility is among the best in college tennis and offers fans a chance to watch all six matches from a comfortable seat above the action.
6. FREE ADMISSION AND FREE PIZZA!!
Last and definitely not least, admission to all home tennis matches is free. Even better, all fans in attendance can receive free pizza after the doubles point! Free food and free admission!!
Looking for a reason to make the trip to Montlake to catch the women's tennis team in action? How about six?
1. The Huskies are off to their best start in program history
Washington has been impressive throughout the season, posting a 16-2 overall record and a 6-1 mark in Pac-12 play. The overall record is the the best through 18 matches in program history and on pace with two of the Huskies' most successful seasons. In 2003, the Huskies were 15-3 through 18 matches and finished 19-4, reaching the NCAA Round of 16. The next season, UW again went 15-3 through its first 18 matches and went all the way to the NCAA Quarterfinals.
Even more impressive about this year's team is that its lone two losses came against teams ranked in the NCAA Top 5 (#2 Vanderbilt and #5 Stanford). However, the Huskies do have some big victories over ranked teams, beating No. 14 North Carolina State at the ITA Team Indoor Championships and No. 7 Kansas State in a non-conference dual in Seattle on March 1.
2. Washington is just one conference win away from a program record
UW already has matched a program-best with six Pac-12 wins and still has three conference matches to go. Since the Pac-12 combined the north and south divisions in 1998, Washington's best Pac-10/12 record had been 6-2, done in 2001 and again in 2003. In those seasons, the Huskies made deep runs in the NCAA Tournament including reaching the NCAA Quarterfinals in 2001. Since posting five Pac-12 wins in 2004, Washington didn't win more than three conference matches again until winning four in 2016 and five in 2017 and 2018. Since 2015 when Head Coach Robin Stephenson took over, the Huskies are 23-24 in Pac-12 matches--the most conference wins in a five-year stretch in program history.
3. With a win, UW could be in good position to host the NCAA First Round for the first time since 2004
The Huskies are sitting in a nice spot with three matches to go, looking to be a near lock to make the NCAA tournament for the second time in three years after failing to reach the tournament from 2011-2016. However, with a win or two this weekend, the Huskies could also put themselves in good position to host the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament for just the fourth time in program history and the first time since 2004. UW is 6-0 in six previous tournament matches in Seattle all coming between 2001 and 2004.
4. Senior Day Sunday
The Huskies will be honoring their two seniors during Sunday's match against UCLA: Stacey Fung and Kenadi Hance. Hance has been a key member of the team during her four seasons at UW, posting a 66-47 overall record in singles matches including a 17-7 mark this season. Fung has been the Huskies No. 1 singles player throughout the season after becoming the team's first All-American since 2011 last year and is currently ranked No. 98 in singles and No. 26 in doubles.
5. Don't worry about rain, we can play inside!
With rain in the forecast, the matches are likely to be played in the Nordstrom Tennis Center just north of Husky Stadium and east of Alaska Airlines Arena. The facility is among the best in college tennis and offers fans a chance to watch all six matches from a comfortable seat above the action.
6. FREE ADMISSION AND FREE PIZZA!!
Last and definitely not least, admission to all home tennis matches is free. Even better, all fans in attendance can receive free pizza after the doubles point! Free food and free admission!!
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
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