ATHENS, Ga. - In a valiant effort that just fell short, the No. 14 Fresno State women's tennis team lost 4-2 to No. 3 Georgia Tech in the NCAA Round of 16, Friday afternoon at the Dan Magill Tennis Complex in Athens, Ga.
It was a tough loss for the Bulldogs, who had won the doubles point and looked to reach its first ever round of eight appearance. But Georgia Tech won four singles matches to seal the victory.
Fresno State came out very strong in doubles to take an early 1-0. Freshmen Renata Kucerkova and Anastasia Petukhova gave Fresno State a slight advantage when they beat 26th-ranked Amanda Craddock and Alison Silverio 8-6. While sophomore Danon Beatty and freshman Vanessa Heroux battled tough against Flower and Rudman on court No. 3, sophomores Melanie Gloria and Tinesta Rowe trailed 6-3 to Miller and McCray at No. 1. But Gloria and Rowe rallied to win five straight games to clinch the point, knocking off the third-ranked Georgia Tech duo 8-6.
It was the 19th consecutive match in which Fresno State had won the doubles point, something that had become the team's strength down the stretch. Kucerkova and Petukhova finish the season having won 10 straight while improving to 18-4 overall and 15-4 in dual matches. For Gloria and Rowe, it was their second victory over a top-10 team, having beat then-No. 7 Cetnik and Sydorska of TCU on March 15.
In singles, Georgia Tech rallied to take a 3-1 lead after winning on courts four through six.
Petukhova cut Fresno State's deficit to 3-2 after defeating Craddock 7-6, 6-1. Petukhova won a tough tiebreaker in the first set and then quickly rolled in the second for her 24th overall victory of the year. She won her 15th consecutive to end the season, all of which came in straights sets.
Gloria led 2-6, 6-2, 5-4 when the match was clinched. Silverio beat Kucerkova 7-6, 6-4 to clinch the match for the Yellow Jackets.
It was Fresno State's fourth appearance in the sweet sixteen and only the second time the Bulldogs have been among the top-16 seeds.
Fresno State concludes a marvelous season having gone 22-4 overall.
Three Bulldogs will remain for the individual tournaments. Gloria and Rowe will participate in the doubles tournament, while Gloria and Kucerkova will compete in the individual singles tourney set to begin on May 23 at the Dan Magill Tennis Complex.
Women's NCAA Tournament (Round of 16)
Dan Magill Tennis Complex (Henry Feild Stadium)
Athens, Ga. - May 18, 2007
No. 3 Georgia Tech def. No. 14 Fresno State, 4-2
Doubles (Fresno State wins doubles point)
1) No. 39 Gloria/Rowe (FS) def. No. 3 Miller/McCray (GT), 8-6
2) No. 52 Kucerkova/Petukhova (FS) def. No. 26 Craddock/Silverio (GT), 8-6
3) Beatty/Heroux (FS) v. Flower/Rudman (GT), 5-6 DNF
Order of completion: 2, 1
Singles
1) No. 3 Melanie Gloria (FS) v. No. 6 Kristi Miller (GT), 2-6, 6-2, 5-4 DNF
2) No. 93 Alison Silverio (GT) def. No. 54 Renata Kucerkova (FS), 7-6, 6-4
3) No. 80 Anastasia Petukhova (FS) def. No. 71 Amanda Craddock (GT), 7-6, 6-1
4) No. 94 Amanda McDowell (GT) def. Tinesta Rowe (FS), 6-3, 6-1
5) No. 62 Christi Striplin (GT) def. Jacqueline Haskett (FS), 6-3, 6-1
6) No. 108 Tarryn Rudman (GT) def. Danon Beatty (FS), 6-3, 6-1
Order of completion: 4, 5, 6, 3, 2
Records: Fresno State (22-4); Georgia Tech (26-4)