ACU puts LSC titles on the line

Both teams looking to defend LSC championships

WICHITA FALLS -- The ACU men's and women's tennis teams will put their respective Lone Star Conference championships on the line this weekend when they compete in the annual LSC tournament.

Midwestern State is the host for this year's tournament, which will be played at four sites around the city: the Wichita Falls Country Club, Weeks Park Tennis Center, MSU Tennis Courts and the Hamilton Park Tennis Center.

The ACU women (23-4 on the season) are ranked ninth in NCAA Division II and should be the overwhelming favorite to win their second straight LSC championship. The Wildcats are the top-ranked team in the Central region and are 7-0 against LSC opponents this season. ACU has won those seven matches by a combined count of 59-4, and has not lost more than one point to any team.

The women's draw will also feature the 15th-ranked Lady Reds of Northeastern State, as well as the 25th-ranked Lady Indians of Midwestern State. Northeastern is ranked second in the region, while Midwestern State is tied for third, along with Tarleton State.

The women's draw will feature some of the top players in both the nation and the region in both the singles and doubles competitions. Northeastern State is led by Zorana Stefanovic, who is ranked No. 4 nationally and No. 1 in the region in singles. ACU's Lacy Johnson is ranked 21st in the nation and second in the region.

Northeastern State's Neus Barbera is ranked 28th nationally and third regionally in singles, while ACU's Sarah Taweel is ranked 31st and fourth. Midwestern State's Brooke Gray is ranked 49th and fifth.

In doubles, Barbera and Stefanovic are ranked 10th nationally and first in the region, while ACU's duo of Johnson and Kristin Chumley is ranked 12th nationally and second regionally.

On the men's side, the title figures to come down to a fight between defending champion ACU, Cameron, Midwestern State and Central Oklahoma. ACU is 3-1 against LSC opponents this season with the only loss a 5-4 loss to Central Oklahoma on April 1 in Edmond, Okla.  ACU has won those three matches by a combined score of 23-4.

ACU's Julien Curatella -- ranked No. 6 in the region in singles -- is the highest-ranked men's player in the draw. UCO's Henry So is ranked seventh, while Cameron's Alex Furlan is ranked 10th. The doubles duo of So and Gregg Leseuer of Central Oklahoma is ranked third regionally.