Texas Tech University Athletics
Lady Raiders Battle Bears For Big 12 Lead
April 03, 2015 | Women's Tennis
April 3, 2015
LUBBOCK, Texas -- Since Todd Petty became head coach at Texas Tech in the summer of 2008 only two schools have won or shared the Big 12 Conference title.
Those two teams will square off on Saturday, as No. 18 Texas Tech (14-4, 4-1 Big 12) hosts No. 7 Baylor (19-4, 5-0 Big 12) at 11 a.m. at the McLeod Tennis Center. It is a battle of the first place Bears and the second place Lady Raiders.
Texas Tech won the 2012 title outright title and shared the title with Baylor in 2013. Last season, the Bears won the league outright and Texas Tech finished third. From 2008-11, Baylor won for straight titles.
If Baylor leaves Lubbock with a win, the Bears could win their 11th Big 12 title. A Lady Raider win ties the two schools for first place with three matches to play for both schools.
"Baylor has been the preeminent team in our conference for the last eight to 10 years," said Lady Raider head coach Todd Petty. "Anytime you are in the same conversation as Baylor and what they have been able to accomplish, you must be doing something right."
In 2012, Texas Tech did the unthinkable and provided the 4-3 upset of then No. 12 Baylor. At the time, it was the biggest win over a ranked opponent in terms of ranking until the Lady Raiders knocked off No. 11 Oklahoma State last week.
Now Texas Tech must try and break its own record by beating No. 7 Baylor.
"This is the best team we have had since I got here -- in terms of talent," said seventh-year head coach Todd Petty. "But we are young -- maybe the youngest team in the nation. We have eight players, five of which are freshmen. Four of those freshmen are in our top six."
Four freshmen -- Sarah Dvorak, Sabrina Federici, Katelyn Jackson and Gabriela Talaba -- are a combined 36-8 (81.8 percent) this season in dual match singles. In all, the Lady Raiders are 53-19 in dual match singles.
Dvorak was the first Lady Raider to reach 20 wins this season, as the freshman from Hawai'i improved to 20-9 on the season. She is ranked No. 90 nationally.
Sophomore Lynn Kiro and Jackson have both won 19 matches this season, with Jackson recording a 19-7 record and Kiro logging a 19-9 mark. Kiro is ranked No. 60 nationally.
Federici, who is ranked No. 122 nationally, is 18-4 this season. Talaba adds an impressive 13-3 mark and Kenna Kilgo is 8-7 from the No. 1 spot.
Players Mentioned
