Mean Green Face No. 29 Tulsa, Kononova Looks To Climb Record Book

April 7, 2018

TULSA, Oklahoma -- The North Texas tennis team is in Oklahoma to face No. 29 Tulsa and start its final road trip of the 2018 regular season on Sunday.

As the Mean Green prepare for the Golden Hurricanes, history could be made Sunday as junior Maria Kononova looks to capture her 34th career singles win, which would tie her for third all-time in school history and be tied for the most since North Texas began playing only dual matches in the spring instead of the entire year. 

Kononova, who last year put together one of the best single seasons in program history, ranks in the top five for career winning percentages in both singles and doubles play. She also ranks second in career doubles wins alongside teammate Tamuna Kutubidze

But with just three matches remaining before the Conference USA Championships in Norfolk, Virginia, the Mean Green's captain is strictly focused on getting her team prepared to make a run in the tournament.

"As a team we are very excited that the conference tournament is approaching," Kononova said. "We are focused on getting better in each of these last three matches. Our attitude is to be the best we can be and be better than we were yesterday." 

North Texas as a whole and Kononova specifically have had to overcome many obstacles this season such as injuries and playing one of the toughest schedules in program history -- eight of the Mean Green's 19 matches this season have been played against schools who are either currently nationally ranked or were ranked at the time they played.

Kononova, the team's fearless No. 1 singles player, has not once blinked an eye to the injuries or heavy competition. She's played through it and battled, beating the No. 2 nationally ranked player on Feb. 23 while struggling to just lift her arm.


 

 

Excuses for their current two-match losing streak are not what you'll hear from the Mean Green.

"Everyone is striving to get better every day and working on areas that they should," Kononova said. "We love the game and as the season is coming to the final part, we want to enjoy every moment of it."

North Texas and Tulsa are scheduled to begin at 11:00 a.m. CT on Sunday.

 

 

North Texas Mean Green