If the Kansas University tennis team were looking for an analogy for its recent play, it needed to look no farther than the surrounding skies at the Robinson courts during a 6-1 loss to Tulsa on Wednesday.

When the match started with the doubles competition at 11 a.m., thick, steel-gray clouds choked the Lawrence skyline. But about 10 minutes into the beginning of the singles matches — about 1:30 p.m. — dense clouds gave way to patches of sunlight and bright blue sky.

During their match against the Golden Hurricane (10-11), the Jayhawks (4-12) had their bright spots, as well, but KU’s play — like the weather — was hit-and-miss.

“We have our chances and we’ll just miss. … We’ll dictate a point, and then miss a short ball,” KU’s Lauren Hommell said.

Her match proved to be a classic example of the team’s roller-coaster ride. After winning the first set against Tulsa’s Santie Delport, 7-5, the KU freshmen lost the second game, 6-0, and the third, 6-1.

“We definitely have to keep our energy level high and not get down on ourselves. We got to keep competing,” said Kansas coach Amy Hall-Holt, whose team has lost three matches in a row following back-to-back victories. “It’s frustrating, and the girls are frustrated, but we got to keep fighting.”

After the match, Hall-Holt gathered her players and stressed the importance of getting eight-to 10-ball rallies. Her message: The more you fight for a point, the better chance you have of winning it.

For example, KU’s Stephanie Smith came away with her school’s only point by battling Kindsay Grime of Tulsa with long rallies.

“She grinded it out today, and I’m very happy with her performance,” Hall-Holt said of the freshman from Salina.

Smith won, 7-6, 7-6.

“My match always tends to be the long one,” Smith said. “I usually play a lot of long points so a lot of times I’m the last one out there so my team is cheering me on, so that always helps.”

Although the Jayhawks are young — with two sophomores and four freshmen among their eight players — they have received help and advice from former players Courtney and Kristen Steinbock and Emily Haylock. All three were on hand watching from the bleachers as they prepare to graduate in May; Courtney serves an assistant volunteer coach for the team.

“(The seniors) call and let them know that they got to be out playing their hardest each and every day because, before you know it, it’s going to be over,” Hall-Holt said, “so we can get that drilled into them and tell them that, before you know it, you’re going to be walking down that hill. … We emphasize every day that they have a great opportunity here and that they need to advantage of it.”