TEMPE, Ariz. – Back at home for the first time in nearly a month, the Sun Devils will return to the Whiteman Tennis Center to host Kansas State (4-1) on Sunday, February 20, 2022, at 10:30 a.m. for the start of a five-match homestand.
Since they last played in Tempe, the Sun Devils (4-2) journeyed to Orlando for the ITA Kickoff Weekend, in which they split a pair of contests against No. 25 Auburn (4-3 loss) and UCSB (4-0 win). They also clashed with No. 22 Oklahoma State in Stillwater in a 4-0 loss on February 12.
Fans can tune into the action via the live stream here, or follow along with live stats.
PREVIEWING THE KANSAS STATE WILDCATS
- A year removed from a 7-12 season, the Wildcats are 4-1 in 2022, with wins against South Dakota, Missouri State, Arkansas and Florida Atlantic. Their lone loss came against Memphis a week ago.
- Kansas State is led by fourth-year head coach Jordan Smith, sporting a career record of 28-27. He was promoted to head coach in July 2019, but has been with the program since 2015 when he was an assistant coach. Smith, 33, played for the University of Memphis from 2007-11.
- The Wildcats are a veteran-heavy team, as five of the eight on the roster are seniors.
- Karine-Marion Job, Kansas State's No. 1 singles player, is a perfect 4-0 so far this spring and is listed by the ITA as No. 68 in the nation.
- Dinara Alloyarova and Florentine Dekkers, the team's two freshmen, have played a pivotal role for the Wildcats in the early going, combining for a 7-1 mark in singles play.
CHASING 550
Over the past 38 years, Sun Devil head coach Sheila McInerney has cemented herself as one of the winningest coaches in the vast history of NCAA Women's Tennis. With 544 career wins under her belt, one more would tie her with Betsy Kuhle, the former 33-year head coach for Western Michigan University and now a member of the Mid-American Conference Hall of Fame.
Among active coaches, McInerney ranks fifth all-time in career wins.
MOST WINS BY ACTIVE WOMEN'S TENNIS COACHES (ENTERING 2022)
773-Jeff Wallace, Georgia (1986-present)
683-Brian Kalbas, William & Mary, North Carolina (1992-present)
551-Jamie Ashworth, Duke (1997-present)
549-Claire Pollard, Miss. State, Lamar, Northwestern (1990-91, 1994-98, 99-present)
540-Sheila McInerney, Arizona State (1985-present)
RANK 'EM
Senior Domenika Turkovic and freshman Patricija Spaka have teamed up to form a terrific one-two punch on Court 1 in doubles play in the early going of 2022. The pair has begun to earn national recognition, ranked as the nation's No. 60 doubles team in the latest ITA rankings, thanks to a 6-4 win against the No. 43 doubles team of Selin Ovunc and Ariana Arseneault of Auburn on January 29.
SPAK-TACULAR
The Sun Devils' highly-decorated freshman Patricija Spaka has been as advertised through the first five matches of her collegiate career. Spaka has paired her team-best five wins in singles play with a national doubles ranking. After being listed as the nation's No. 2 freshman in the ITA's preseason rankings, the Latvian native has lived up to the billing for Sheila McInerney in the season's infancy.
Spaka is also the first Sun Devil freshman to start her collegiate career 5-0 in singles play through the team's first five matches of the season since Sammi Hampton in 2015-16. Hampton aced the first eight singles matches of her freshman year in the spring of 2016.
GOIN' BACK TO CALI
For much of the off-season, the coaching staff toyed with different lineups and wondered who would slot where in the starting six. A huge boost for McInerney this spring has been senior Cali Jankowski, the only returning player from the 2019 season. She's a perfect 4-0 in singles and 3-1 alongside Sedona Gallagher on Court 3 in doubles play.
HOME, SWEET HOME
After three consecutive road matches, the Sun Devils will enjoy a lengthy stay in Tempe that will stretch into early March. The weekend tilt against Kansas State is the first of five consecutive home matches. The Sun Devils are a perfect 3-0 at home in 2022.
FEB. 20 vs. Kansas State at 10:30 a.m. MST
FEB. 26 vs. San Diego at 12 p.m. MST
FEB. 27 vs. Kansas at 12 p.m. MST
MARCH 4 vs. Washington at 1:30 p.m. MST
MARCH 5 vs. Washington State (start time TBD)