FRESNO, Calif. - Fresno State sophomore Melanie Gloria continues to dominate her opponents at the Intercollegiate Tennis Association's All-American in Pacific Palisades, Calif. This time Gloria upset No. 1 Audra Cohen of Miami in straight sets, 6-3, 6-2, Saturday afternoon at the Riviera Tennis Club. She now becomes the first woman in Fresno State history to advance to the ITA All-American singles final.
"She just dominated the entire match," said head coach Simon Thibodeau. "She made a few mistakes her and there, but she never lost her focus. She was completely confident today and the crowd seemed to be on her side."
Gloria has won four straight, including victories over two women to whom she had lost last season - Cohen and Megan Moulton-Levy of William and Mary.
Gloria trailed 1-0 to begin the match, but quickly gained control to take the first set. In the second set, she led 5-1 at one point. Cohen beat Gloria last season in Fresno State's 4-1 loss to Miami in the NCAA round of 16. But Gloria knew she was capable of playing much better.
"I knew I couldn't play any worse," Gloria said jokingly. "I definitely knew how to attack her weaknesses. I stayed away from her forehand, playing the ball mostly to her backhand side. And most importantly, I wanted to always be positive."
It is the second appearance for a Fresno State woman in a singles national final. Jelena Pandzic was a finalist in the 2004 NCAA championship. It is the second appearance in as many years for the Bulldogs in an All-American final. Last season, Lucia Sainz and Katharina Winterhalter were finalists in both the All-American and the NCAA doubles championships.
Gloria will face 2006 NCAA champion Suzi Babos of Cal on Sunday at approximately noon. As a semifinalist today, Gloria had automatically qualified for the National Indoor championships in November.
Gloria is the Western Athletic Conference's reigning Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year.
The Riviera/ITA All-American is college tennis' first major championship of the 2006-07 tennis season. Stay tuned to gobulldogs.com for all of the Fresno State women's tennis action.