Don’t blame the Kansas tennis team if it has a chip on its shoulder this year.

After going 16-6 overall, finishing tied for second in the Big 12 Conference with a 9-2 record and being ranked No. 1 in the Central Region by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association last spring, the Jayhawks weren’t selected for the NCAA tournament.

Courtney Steinbock, above, and her sister, Kristen, went 10-10 in doubles last season.

This year, opponents might want to spend a little extra time at practice before facing Kansas.

“We were all very surprised at first and then very disappointed,” coach Kilmeny Waterman said of being snubbed by the tournament selection committee. “I know that will spur this team and be a great incentive this year.”

Waterman, the 2002 Big 12 and Central Region coach of the year, will lead a young but experienced group of players after losing only No. 1 singles player Cheryl Mallaiah.

The Jayhawks return six players who participated in at least 39 matches last year, led by lone senior Kim Lorenz who was 23-6 in singles and was Big 12 co-champion at No. 6 singles.

Lorenz, who was named to the 2002 Academic All-Big 12 First Team, said she hoped to focus on singles again this year and let her experience have a positive effect on the newcomers.

“I just like to play singles,” she said, “and I know there are better players at doubles on our team. When you’re the senior you just try to set a good example for the incoming freshmen.”

She also agreed with Waterman about the impetus of last year’s success.

“I think that we’re all going to be motivated,” Lorenz said, “because we know how good we can be now. At the beginning of last season we didn’t have much confidence but now we know we should beat some teams.”

Waterman doesn’t know who will play at what positions, but she’s pleased with the uncertainty.

“It’s kind of up to them,” she said. “That’s part of the beauty of this team. We’re solid up and down the lineup, and that’s a good thing as a coach.”

Also returning are juniors Emily Haylock and twins Courtney and Kristen Steinbock and sophomores Aurelie Bejar and Paige Brown.

The Steinbocks teamed for a 10-10 doubles record and were ranked No. 6 in the Central Region, and the team of Haylock and Brown tied for No. 15 with a record of 14-4. They were Big 12 runners-up at No. 2 doubles.

Both freshmen had strong spring seasons as well. Brown won her first five singles matches en route to a 14-7 record, and Bejar went 16-4 in singles and was Big 12 Champion at No. 5 singles as well as Big 12 runner-up at No. 3 doubles with Mallaiah

“I think it will help a lot,” Waterman said of the experience gained last year. “We had a very young team, but we had three sophomores who improved a lot from their freshman year. I just think we’ll be that much better with that experience. This team is very talented and each year they’re coming closer to their potential.”

One potential problem is the lack of an indoor practice facility.

Alvamar Racquet Club has been sold to Seabury Academy and will become the private school’s new building. That means the Jayhawks will have to travel to Topeka for indoor practice and meets.

“This is what we have to do for this year,” Waterman said, “and hopefully we will get our own facility. We’ve been working on it and we need to raise some funds. We just have to deal with it. It will be tough to make the commute, but we have to think positive and be OK with it this year.”

After last year’s disappointing NCAA snub, the one thing Kansas won’t be OK with this year is another year without a postseason bid.

“We did everything we thought we needed to do to make the tournament,” Waterman said, “but we lost maybe one too many matches. I think they’ll be ready to win that match this year.”