TEMPE, Ariz. – After facing two of the top-10 teams in the country, the Sun Devil women's tennis team kicks off Pac-12 play by hosting Utah (3-1, 0-0) and Colorado (8-3, 0-0) at Whiteman Tennis Center this weekend. The Devils host the Utes on Friday, March 10 at 1:30 p.m. MST, followed by the Buffaloes on Saturday at 12 p.m. MST.
ASU (5-3, 0-0) will look to get back on track after losing two straight for the first time in over a year, while also aiming to build upon their best-ever conference finish in 2016.
"I really don't treat conference play any differently," said head coach Sheila McInerney. "We know our opponents better, but as far as a change, we like to take every match the same. We just want to be ready for Utah on Friday and take it one match at a time.
"There's always pride in doing well and winning in your conference, but being more of an individual sport, you have to just keep moving forward."
The Devils – now ranked No. 40 after the weekend – finished 2016 with a program-best 8-4 record within the Pac-12. Behind Pac-12 doubles champions Alex Osborne and Ebony Panoho, the team captured their first Pac-12 Tournament team title as well.
Last season, McInerney's squad handled both squads on the road, defeating Colorado 7-0 and Utah 4-1 on the Pac-12 Network.
The lady Devils are perfect against the Buffaloes all-time, holding a 7-0 overall record, while the Utes only defeated ASU once in seven meetings. Utah won the match-up back on April 13, 2012 by a score of 5-2 in Tempe.
Neither Pac-12 foe is currently ranked in the ITA standings, and neither have players ranked within singles or doubles.
Utah has won their last three in a row, defeating New Mexico, Wisconsin and BYU by a combined 15-3.
The Buffaloes are coming off a 7-0 loss at the hands of then-No. 23 Rice in Houston on Feb. 26.
For ASU, junior Kelley Anderson jumps into the ITA singles rankings at No. 70 for the first time this season, and is currently riding a 12-match unbeaten streak.
Sophomore Sammi Hampton skyrocketed in the rankings this week, moving from No. 72 to No. 48 – her highest ever ranking in singles.
Her and doubles partner, senior Kassidy Jump, also moved back into the doubles rankings for the first time since last season. The ying and yang duo is now ranked No. 59, which is their highest ever ranking as a pair.
Both matches will be streamed live on ASU Live Stream 3 here.
ASU (5-3, 0-0) will look to get back on track after losing two straight for the first time in over a year, while also aiming to build upon their best-ever conference finish in 2016.
"I really don't treat conference play any differently," said head coach Sheila McInerney. "We know our opponents better, but as far as a change, we like to take every match the same. We just want to be ready for Utah on Friday and take it one match at a time.
"There's always pride in doing well and winning in your conference, but being more of an individual sport, you have to just keep moving forward."
The Devils – now ranked No. 40 after the weekend – finished 2016 with a program-best 8-4 record within the Pac-12. Behind Pac-12 doubles champions Alex Osborne and Ebony Panoho, the team captured their first Pac-12 Tournament team title as well.
Last season, McInerney's squad handled both squads on the road, defeating Colorado 7-0 and Utah 4-1 on the Pac-12 Network.
The lady Devils are perfect against the Buffaloes all-time, holding a 7-0 overall record, while the Utes only defeated ASU once in seven meetings. Utah won the match-up back on April 13, 2012 by a score of 5-2 in Tempe.
Neither Pac-12 foe is currently ranked in the ITA standings, and neither have players ranked within singles or doubles.
Utah has won their last three in a row, defeating New Mexico, Wisconsin and BYU by a combined 15-3.
The Buffaloes are coming off a 7-0 loss at the hands of then-No. 23 Rice in Houston on Feb. 26.
For ASU, junior Kelley Anderson jumps into the ITA singles rankings at No. 70 for the first time this season, and is currently riding a 12-match unbeaten streak.
Sophomore Sammi Hampton skyrocketed in the rankings this week, moving from No. 72 to No. 48 – her highest ever ranking in singles.
Her and doubles partner, senior Kassidy Jump, also moved back into the doubles rankings for the first time since last season. The ying and yang duo is now ranked No. 59, which is their highest ever ranking as a pair.
Both matches will be streamed live on ASU Live Stream 3 here.