RUSTON – The nationally ranked Louisiana Tech tennis team gets postseason underway on Friday as they battle Florida Atlantic in the quarterfinals of the Conference USA Tournament.
 
MATCH INFORMATION
Date/Time: Friday, April 21 | 1 p.m. CT
Location: Waranch Tennis Complex (Denton, Texas)
Stats: LATechSports.com/Stats
 
ABOUT NO. 4 LOUISIANA TECH (19-5)
No. 65-ranked LA Tech earned the No. 4 seed and received a first-round bye in the C-USA Tournament after finishing with the fourth highest nationally ranking in the league.  It is the highest finish ever for the Lady Techsters in their 10 years in C-USA.
 
LA Tech had a strong close to the regular season, having been nationally ranked the last three weeks.  The team won 12 of its last 14 matches, including a stretch of 11 straight victories. 
 
The team is a combined 84-29 in dual singles this spring, anchored by Leonie Schuknecht who went 15-3 from the top spot.  The junior has the second most wins of anyone in C-USA from the No. 1 singles position. 
 
Olga Bienzobas and Najah Dawson are right behind her at the No. 2 and No. 3 spots, each with 14 singles victories.  Meanwhile, Ana Rodrigues and Ilana Tetruashvili who play at No. 5 and No. 6 are riding winning streaks of four and seven games, respectively.
 
In dual doubles, the squad is a combined 40-25.  The newly formed duo of Bienzobas and Alexia Romero has been the most impressive as of late, winning their last five matches including a 6-3 win over No. 45-ranked Charlotte in the regular season finale.  
 
ABOUT NO. 5 FLORIDA ATLANTIC (8-13)
Florida Atlantic earned the No. 5 seed and also received a first-round bye after concluding the season with the fifth highest ranking in C-USA.  The Owls played a very difficult schedule, facing five nationally ranked opponents.
 
FAU's biggest win came in a 6-1 victory over No. 62 Wichita State.  However, the Owls closed out the regular season with three straight losses to Columbia, Maryland, and top-seeded FIU.
 
They are a combined 49-59 in dual singles with Martina Kudelova being the top player at No. 1.  She was a First Team All-Conference USA selection last season and owns a 7-10 mark this season.  Millie-Mae Matthews has been their most productive singles player, going 12-6, primarily on court six.
 
In dual doubles, FAU is a combined 26-27 with Matthews and Victoria Gomez O'Hayon owning a team-best 7-2 record while playing primarily from the No. 2 position.
 
THE SERIES
LA Tech and Florida Atlantic have met on the courts twice all-time with both teams winning one match apiece.  The Lady Techsters won the first ever meeting, 7-0, in 2014 while the Owls claimed the second meeting, 5-2.  Both matchups took place in Boca Raton, Florida.
 
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