The ISU women’s tennis team starts Big 12 Conference Championship play Thursday with a match against Oklahoma.

Tournament play is set to begin today and runs through Saturday at the Plaza Tennis Center in Kansas City, Mo., and is being hosted by the University of Missouri. Iowa State will play Oklahoma at noon.

“We may have some different singles match ups in the sense that Kristin Gyaki was out the first time we played them,” head coach Michele Conlon said. “When she plays in the lineup, that pushes everyone down.”

The Oklahoma Sooners are ranked No. 24 in the nation with a 7-12 record in the conference. During regular season play, the Sooners defeated the Cyclones 7-0.

“Since we lost the last time having some different matchups will be very helpful for us,” Conlon said. “We’ve played Oklahoma once, so we will know a bit about their individual game and we will share that information. The coaches will share information and the players will share information with each other.”

Conlon said the team will use this knowledge in their match preparation.

“We will have a good day of practice when we get down there and they’ll be ready to go,” she said.

Baylor, Texas A&M, Texas and Oklahoma State comprise the top four teams in the tournament and received byes in the first round. If Iowa State advances to the second round, they will face Oklahoma State.

“The tournament will give us an opportunity to get a Big 12 win and advance,” senior Gyaki said. “There will be some tough competition; everyone is going to want to win.”

The ISU women have a 0-11 record in conference play. Conlon said the players on the team need to come out with a lot of energy like they did in their doubles matches against Nebraska last Saturday.

“I think that if we can have that energy we will be successful,” Conlon said. “It would be nice to get some good matchups in terms of game styles.”

Senior Courtney Leese said she would like to play the best she can and have no regrets about the match.

“I’d like to get a victory, of course, especially in doubles with Evangelina [Soriano],” Leese said. “Who knows, maybe we will pull an upset.”

Conlon said there have been more positives than negatives about the season so far.

“One of the things that shines out is that each person on the team has seen some improvement,” she said. “Each person has brought something to add a dimension to our team.”

The players have also excelled in the classroom, Conlon said. Four members of the team, Gyaki, Leese, senior Tara Goedjen and junior Sabrina Evers made the Academic All-Big 12 Team. The team is composed of players who have competed in at least 60 percent of competitions and have achieved a grade-point average of a 3.20 or higher.

“There are so many things we can be proud of,” Conlon said. “It would be great to have another feather in our cap by getting a win against Oklahoma.”