TEMPE, Ariz. – The Sun Devils (10-2, 1-0) have a chance to keep their red-hot home streak alive when Pennsylvania (8-2) comes to town on Saturday, March 11, at 12 p.m. MST at the Whiteman Tennis Center.
Fans can keep up with the action via live results or follow along through the live stream.
It's the last of the team's current three-match homestand, while also the final action to be played at Whiteman for the month of March.
The Sun Devils will then embark on a four-match road trip across both Washington and California. They won't return home until Friday, April 7, against USC (1:30 p.m. MST), the first of four home matches left on the schedule.
SUN DEVIL NOTABLES
- The Sun Devils checked in to the latest ITA team rankings at No. 27 overall. Only two Pac-12 schools are ranked higher – Stanford (No. 14) and Washington (No. 25).
- The duo of Domenika Turkovic/Patricija Spaka was listed at No. 11 in doubles – up three spots from their previous ranking. Giulia Morlet (No. 79, up 12 spots) and Chelsea Fontenel (No. 113, up three spots) were listed in the singles rankings.
- The Sun Devils are recently removed from a weekend sweep of both No. 46 Baylor (4-0) and No. 53 Oregon (4-0) at Whiteman, pushing their record to 10-2 this season and a perfect 9-0 at home.
- The story of last weekend centered around freshman Chelsea Fontenel, who stepped in for the injured Giulia Morlet on singles Court 1 and delivered two convincing wins, including the first over a ranked opponent in her collegiate career.
- March 4 vs. Baylor: def. No. 94 Isabella Harvison (7-6, 6-3)
- March 5 vs. Oregon: def. Sophie Lueshcer (6-0, 6-3)
- Given Morlet's absence, the Sun Devils were forced to shuffle their doubles lineup, as well, plugging in Rachel Hanford into doubles Court 2 alongside Sedona Gallagher. Hanford/Gallagher swiftly beat Baylor's Alina Shcherbinina / Paula Baranano (6-0) in their first pairing together.
- Fontenel and Argyrokastriti have provided plenty of punch in the middle of the Sun Devil singles lineup this spring, tied for the team-high in wins (11) and combining to go 21-1. They've most frequently played on Courts 3 and 4, respectively.
- Whiteman Warriors: There's home court advantage, and there's home court dominance. It's been a case of the latter for the Sun Devils over the last few seasons, winning 57 of their last 66 home matches dating back to 2018.
RECENT HISTORY OF SUN DEVILS AT WHITEMAN
2023: 9-0
2022: 11-2
2021: 9-2
2020: 8-1 (before COVID-19 cancellation)
2019: 10-3
2018: 10-1
TOTAL: 57-9 (.864)
REMAINING HOME MATCHES THIS SEASON
Saturday, March 11 vs. Penn (12 p.m. MST)
Friday, April 7 vs. USC (1:30 p.m. MST)
Saturday, April 8 vs. UCLA (12 p.m. MST)
Friday, April 14 vs. Colorado (1:30 p.m. MST)
Saturday, April 15 vs. Utah (12 p.m. MST)
PREVIEWING PENN
- The Fighting Quakers are 8-2 this spring and come to Tempe riding a four-match win streak.
- Led by 14th-year head coach Sanela Kunovac, Penn was 15-9 a season ago.
- Sophomore Sabine Rutlauka is coming off a stellar fall season, in which she went a perfect 7-0 and made an appearance at the ITA Super Regionals.
- The Sun Devils haven't seen the Fighting Quakers since March 9, 2015, a match they swept, 7-0, at the Whiteman Tennis Center.
NEARLY FOUR DECADES OF COACH MAC
Sheila McInerney is in year 39 at Arizona State. Only two current Pac-12 coaches have been at their job longer and fourth on the list is Hall of Famer Tara VanDerveer.
McInerney recently coached in her 900th career game as the Sun Devils' head coach against the No. 6 Buckeyes on February 19.
In April 2022, McInerney guided the Sun Devils to a 4-3 win over No. 12 Cal, securing the 550th win of her career. She currently owns a career record of 567-335 (.629).
CURRENT PAC-12 COACHES 37+ YEARS
Jack Clark, Cal Rugby (40th season in 2022-23)
Mary Lou Mulflur, Washington Women's Golf (40th season in 2022-23)
Sheila McInerney, Arizona State Women's Tennis (39th season in 2022-23)
Tara VanDerveer, Stanford Women's Basketball (37th season in 2022-23)
FUTURE DEVILS
The Sun Devils announced the signing of top Croatian junior Sara Svetac on Thursday, marking the second signee in the incoming freshmen class.
Svetac, who was ranked as high as No. 135 in the ITF Junior World rankings, has captured five ITF junior single titles and a trio of junior doubles titles.
She will arrive in Tempe this fall, joined alongside top Lithuanian junior Emilija Tverijonaite, who signed with the team in November 2022.
FOLLOW ALONG
Keep up with the Sun Devils this week against the Fighting Quakers via the team's Twitter account @sundevilwtennis, which will be updated with results, scores and more.