TOPEKA, Kan. (Jan. 25, 2003) The BYU women's tennis team (0-2) lost another close match this weekend, this time to the University of Kansas (1-0) by the score of 4-3 on Saturday.

Kansas sealed the victory when Emily Haylock prevailed over freshman Olga Boulytcheva in a tough three-set match at No. 3 singles. Haylock won 3-6, 6-1, 6-4.

"It was tough for Olga (Boulytcheva) to play under that kind of pressure," BYU head coach Craig Manning said. "This was her first match ever on the collegiate level and the final result of the match came down to her. I thought she played well considering the circumstances."

The Cougars dominated in all three doubles positions to claim the doubles point.

"We played very well in doubles today," Manning said. "I changed the line-up a bit before this weekend and I think that helped to balance things out a little."

Seniors Dominique Reynolds and Leeza Klempner beat sisters Kristen and Courtney Steinbock 9-8 in a tough match at first doubles. Rebecca Pike teamed up with Lu Oswald at No. 2 doubles and defeated Emily Haylock and Christine Skoda 8-4. Nicole Schneider and Hadley Macfarlane rounded out the doubles victories by beating Paige Brown and Kim Lorenz 8-4 at No. 3 doubles.

The Jayhawks were able to fight back and win the dual match by winning four of the six singles matches. Schneider and Macfarlane were the lone Cougars to win in singles. Schneider won at No. 5 singles by beating Lorenz 6-3, 6-3 and Macfarlane beat Luiza Loureiro 6-2, 6-1 at the No. 6 spot.

The Cougars will continue their season next Friday when they host Utah State in Provo.

No. 44 Kansas def. No. 48 BYU, Final Score 4-3
Doubles
1. Reynolds/Klempner (BYU) def. Steinbock/Steinbock (KU)   9-8
2. Pike/Oswald (BYU) def. Haylock/Skoda                    8-4
3. Schneider/MacFarlane (BYU) def. Brown/Lorenz            8-4
Singles
1. Courtney Steinbock (KU) def. Dominique Reynolds (BYU)   7-5, 6-3
2. Paige Brown (KU) def. Lu Oswald (BYU)                   6-0, 6-2
3. Emily Haylock (KU) def. Olga Boulytcheva (BYU)          3-6, 6-1, 6-4
4. Christine Skoda (KU) def. Leeza Klempner (BYU)          7-5, 6-2
5. Nicole Schneider (BYU) def. Kim Lorenz (KU)             6-3, 6-3
6. Hadley MacFarlane (BYU) def. Luiza Loureiro (KU)        6-2, 6-1

PROVO, Utah (January 22, 2003) The No. 48 BYU women's tennis team opens up the new 2003 season this week as they travel to Kansas to take on Kansas State and Kansas on Friday and Saturday.

The women's team spent part of the Christmas holiday training in Hawaii and are now ready to get the regular season underway. The Cougars enter the 2003 season with lofty goals and even higher expectations. Fourth-year head coach Craig Manning is looking forward to this opening-season road trip.

"Both Kansas and Kansas State are ranked in the top 75 nationally and they always provide tough competition," Manning said. "Playing them will be a great way to start off our season."

The No. 61 ranked Wildcats of Kansas State return five letterwinners from last year's team that finished No. 54 in the final Intercollegiate Tennis Association poll with a 12-9 overall record and 6-5 Big 12 mark. Brigham Young has an 11-1 series lead over Kansas State and 3-0 lead in Manhattan. The lone K-State victory came last year when the Wildcats beat the Cougars, 4-3, in Provo.

Kansas is currently ranked No. 44 nationally. The Jayhawks finished the 2002 season ranked as the number one team in the Central Region, finishing the season 16-6 overall and 9-2 in Big 12 Conference play. BYU beat them last year in Provo 4-2.

Coming off a 10-14 season last year that was filled with injuries and tough losses to key opponents, this year's Cougars have a great schedule and a team with a lot of depth. Fourth year head coach Craig Manning is optimistic about the upcoming season.

"I know we are going to be pretty good," Manning said. "How good we are, that is yet to be seen. We have enough depth that this team could be better than any I have had since I have been at BYU."

With only one player gone, this year's team brings with it great leadership skills and experience.

"We basically have the same team as last year, but they all come back with more to offer," said Manning.

Seniors Dominique Reynolds and Lu Oswald finished last year playing No. 1 and 2, respectively. Last season, they were both named to the Mountain West All-Conference team for the second consecutive year. Reynolds posted an impressive 19-9 record in singles play in 2002 and finished the season on a strong note winning her last 13 singles matches. She ended the fall season with an impressive 8-3 record.

Oswald ended last season with an even 15-15 singles record. She will join Reynolds at the top of the singles lineup this year and they will play together as the top doubles team for the Cougars.

"Dominique Reynolds and Lu Oswald have the biggest hearts and they work like crazy," Manning said. "They are the most committed girls. They provide the perfect leadership for our team at the top of our lineup."

After the Kansas road trip, the Cougars will host Utah State in Provo next weekend.