WAC WOMEN’S TENNIS NOTEBOOK
PLAYER OF THE MONTH
Fresno State’s Tinesta Rowe was named the Western Athletic Conference Women’s Tennis Player of the Month for October. Rowe, a junior from Ocho Rios, Jamaica (American Heritage), posted a perfect 5-0 doubles mark and a 4-1 singles record at the ITA Northwest Regional Championships at the University of Stanford in October. Rowe and teammate Melanie Gloria captured the doubles title by scores of 8-1, 8-2, 8-2, 8-2, and 8-6. Rowe was also impressive in the singles bracket, reaching the quarterfinals in a tournament filled with national-ranked opponents. In the round of 32, Rowe upset No. 9 Celia Durkin of Stanford in three sets, 6-2, 4-6, 6-2.
Other women’s tennis nominees included: Pichittra Thongdack of Boise State played her way to the semifinal round at the Racquet Club Collegiate Invitational in Midlands, Texas on Oct. 12, where she went 3-1 ... Hawai?i senior Chloe Bihag defeated Whitney Palluch of Cal State Northridge in straight sets at the Rainbow Wahine Invitational. She also defeated Loyola Marymount’s Audrey Bulkey in three sets at the Wilson/ITA Western Regional Championship ... New Mexico State junior Stephanie Eusebe won all five of her matches and was in the doubles title match of both the Cougar Fall Draw and the UNM Individual Invitational. Eusebe went 2-4 in singles play in October ... Brianna Harris of Utah State went 1-1 at No. 1 singles and 1-1 in doubles at the Round Robin Utah Invitational.
BSU DUO CLAIMS ITA CENTRAL REGIONAL DOUBLES TITLE
Boise State’s women’s tennis team competed in the ITA Women’s Central Regional Championships hosted by the University of Tulsa. After numerous rounds of singles and doubles play over the four-day event, the Broncos’ Polina Kokoulina and Pichittra Thongdack came out on top, earning the championship doubles title. The No. 7 seeded BSU duo upset Arkansas’ Ela Kalunder and Aurelija Misevcuite, the No. 3 seed, in an 8-5 decison. The duo advanced to nationals where the went 0-2.
FRESNO’S GLORIA AND ROWE WIN NORTHWEST REGIONAL
For the second time in three years, the Bulldogs have won the doubles title in the prestigious Northwest Regional Championships. Juniors Melanie Gloria and Tinesta Rowe edged sophomore teammates Renata Kucerkova and Anastasia Petukhove 8-6 in Palo Alto, Calif. It was an impressive feat for both Bulldog tandems to reach the finals of a tournament filled with nationally-ranked teams. Gloria and Rowe, ranked No. 11 in the nation, were the top-seeded duo in the tournament and proved to be the best in the region. The team went 1-1 at the national competition.
HAWAI?I’S BIHAG MAKES RUN TO THIRD ROUND OF REGIONALS Hawai?i’s Chloe Bihag advanced to the third round of the main singles draw at the West Region Championships this past month. Bihag defeated Loyola Marymount’s Audrey Bulkey in three sets to advance to the round of 32, where she dropped a two set decision to 18th-ranked Nadia Abdala of Arizona State.
KIRCH AND LEONI IMPRESSIVE FOR IDAHO
The doubles team of Natalie Kirch and Laura Leoni proved to be the bright spot for Idaho this past month. The two finished the New Mexico Invitational with a 2-1 record and Kirch finished singles play be going 3-1 and winning her consolation bracket.
TECHSTERS WRAP UP FALL SEASON AT PEPSI CHALLENGE
The Louisiana Tech women’s tennis team completed competition at the Pepsi Challenge hosted by UL-Lafayette with the Lady Techsters taking three wins. The duo of Ashley Wedderburn and Alexandra Gasper defeated Centenary’s Courtney Meyers and kate Buchannan. Singles action saw Rocio Juarez and Wedderburn both get wins.
NEVADA TANDEM REACHES QUARTERFINALS AT REGIONALS
Nevada’s doubles team of Caroline Bailly and Maria Mizyuk reached the quarterfinals of the ITA Regionals at Stanford. The duo, seeded seventh int he event, faced Sacramento State’s Luba Schifris and Katsiaryna Zheltova in the round of 16 with the Nevada pair taking an 8-5 win. Bailly and Mizyuk fell in the quarterfinal round by score of 8-3.
NEW MEXICO STATE CLAIMS DOUBLES TITLE
Juniors Stephanie Eusebe and Paulina Zuniga cruised to the title of the B doubles draw at the New Mexico Individual Invitational this past month. The pair defeated UTEP’s Vicky Michaud and Harmonie Chatagner, 8-4, to advance to their second-straight doubles championship match. Sophomore Aleksa Costa and freshman Bianca Discorida also capped off an impressive fall season, going undefeated at the UC Irvine Invitational. In all, the Aggies won four of six singles matches in the final day and one of three doubles matches at the event.
SJSU WRAPS UP FALL SEASON WITH WINS AT STANFORD
FALL TOURNAMENT
San Jose Stat’s Ashley Tavita overcame knee pain and a tough draw to notch a pair of wins in consolation singles during the final day of the Stanford Fall Women’s ITA Tennis Tournament. Tavita topped Gonzaga’s Rika Mehndiratta, in straight sets and then battled Lindsey McBride of Santa Clara for a three set victory.
UTAH STATE ENDS FALL SEASON AT UTAH FALL INVITE
Utah State competed in a round robin style tournament at the University of Utah to wrap up the fall season. Sophomore Brianna Harris and junior Bridgette Strickland had wins in singles and doubles, while sophomore Britney Watts tallied a singles win.
BRONCOS STRONG AT COUGAR CLASSIC AND BYU INVITE
In its first action of the fall season, Boise State’s Bianca Jochimsen and Laura Baum captured the doubles title at Washington State’s Cougar Classic in Pullman, Wash. The Bronco tandem teamed up to defeat Washington State’s Burduli and Kamendova 8-3 in the championship match on Sept. 30. Meanwhile, junior Klaudia Wlodarczyk won the consolation singles championship going 4-1 overall at the BYU Invitational in Provo, Utah. After struggling in her first round matchup, Wlodarczyk rebounded with four consecutive victories, topping BYU’s Dolly Chang to claim the consolation title. In all, five Bronco veterans competed last weekend representing Boise State in the two regional tournaments.
WAC TOURNAMENT TO BE HELD IN LAS CRUCES
This season, the Western Athletic Conference Tournament will return to Las Cruces, New Mexico on the campus of New Mexico State, April 24-27. The 2007 champion, Fresno State, will look to win its seventh-straight title. Last season, Fresno State took the title at the Appleton Tennis Center in Boise, defeating second-seeded Boise State, 4-0.