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Senior nets career win record for Fort Hays tennis
3/28/2008
By RANDY GONZALES
rgonzales@dailynews.net
As a nursing major, one might say Kris Marten is used to providing a shot in the arm.
Marten, a senior on the Fort Hays State University women's tennis team, has done just that through the years for the Tigers. So much so, that on Saturday Marten broke the school's career record for wins.
Marten teamed with sophomore doubles partner Mary Kate McKee to win No. 3 doubles 8-2 against Truman State (Mo.) University on Saturday at the FHSU Courts. That victory gave Martin 92 career wins, surpassing Robin Horan's 91 wins from 1996-00.
Marten said when she entered the Fort Hays program as a freshman she wasn't thinking of breaking any records.
"Not at all," Marten said. "Last thing on my mind."
Fort Hays coach Brian Flax typically puts Marten at No. 3 singles and No. 3 doubles. In close duals, that part of the lineup can be the difference between a win and a loss.
"She's been the final match to get a win several times in her career," Flax said. "She's won a lot of matches."
Marten's doubles win with McKee was just one of two victories on the day Saturday for Fort Hays, which lost 7-2 against a ranked Truman State squad. The other win was by McKee at No. 3 singles.
"We actually were very much in control in doubles," Marten said. "Really happy with how we played doubles today.
"I love my partner, Mary Kate, she helps me out so much," Marten added.
But the Tigers had little success the rest of the day.
"They're a quality team," Flax said of Truman State.
That's why beating Colorado Christian University 8-1 on Friday at the FHSU Courts was important.
"It's always good to get a split against two Division II teams," Flax said. "We've got to try to keep our Division II record above .500. ... The girls were really solid (Friday)."
Solid is the way to describe Marten's career.
"She's just steady Eddie, works hard, just a competitor," Flax said.
Perhaps that's why Marten is a fan of Maria Sharapova.
"I really like Sharapova, she's very competitive," Marten said.
Marten said her game is nothing like that of her favorite player.
"Definitely consistency," Marten said was one of her strengths. "Definitely not power. Very few mistakes."
Coming to Fort Hays was not a mistake.
Martin also played basketball at Topeka West, but chose to play tennis in college.
"I figured basketball would be a little more time-consuming," Marten said. "I thought basketball would be tough to juggle."
As it turned out, tennis and nursing have competed for Marten's attention.
"Nursing is very time-consuming," Marten said. "I miss (tennis) practice often, (and also) have to make up clinicals (for nursing)."
There will be no more competitive tennis for Marten after this spring. She's due to graduate next May, so Martin is contemplating helping out Flax as a coach next year.
"I don't know what I would do without sports," Marten said.
Flax, and the Tiger program, wouldn't know what to do without Marten.
| Scoreboard | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Sport | Date | Opponent | Score |
| 2/18 | SW Baptist | L 66-53 | |
| 12/1 | Oklahoma - Panhandle | L 66-60 (OT) | |