TULSA ? The No. 16 Fresno State Bulldogs saw their 2008 season come to an end, dropping a tough match to No. 1 Northwestern, 4-1, in their Round of 16 matchup at Tulsa’s Michael D. Case Tennis Center. The Bulldogs fell to 22-8 to end their season, while the Wildcats improved to 29-1 and advance to NCAA Quarterfinal action on Saturday versus No. 8 California.
Northwestern overpowered Fresno State in doubles action, earning a quick 1-0 advantage over the Bulldogs heading into singles play. Fresno State’s duo of Danon Beatty and Jacqueline Haskett fell to Northwestern’s Maria Mosolova and Nazlie Ghazal, 8-2, at the No. 3 position, while the Bulldogs No. 33-ranked tandem of Anastasia Petukhova and Renata Kucerkova fell to Samantha Murray and Suzie Matzenauer, 8-5, at No. 2 doubles.
The Wildcats took a 3-0 match advantage over the Bulldogs when Northwestern’s Matzenauer tallied a straight-set victory over Fresno State’s Beatty, 6-2, 6-3, at the No. 6 spot, before No. 5-ranked Mosolova notched her 14th-consecutive win, taking down No. 16-ranked Melanie Gloria, 6-3, 6-2, at No. 1 singles.
Fresno State registered its only team point when No. 33-ranked Petukhova upset Northwestern’s No. 11-ranked Georgia Rose, 6-4, 6-4, at the No. 2 spot, closing the margin to a 3-1 Bulldog match advantage.
Northwestern clinched the victory over Fresno State when No. 53-ranked Lauren Lui of Northwestern defeated No. 110-ranked Tinesta Rowe, 7-6, 6-2, tallying her 19th-straight victory.
Fresno State ended its season playing together as a team, but four Bulldogs will continue action in the NCAA Singles and Doubles Tennis Championships, May 21-26. The Bulldogs doubles tandem of Gloria and Rowe have received the No. 2 seed in the women’s doubles championship and will be joined by teammates Petukhova and Kucerkova as at-large selections. Gloria and Petukhova will also be participating in the women’s singles championship.
NCAA Tennis Championships (NCAA Round of 16)
Michael D. Case Tennis Center, University of Tulsa
May 15, 2008
No. 1 Northwestern def. No. 16 Fresno State, 4-1
DOUBLES (Northwestern wins doubles point)
1. Melanie Gloria/Tinesta Rowe (FS) vs. Georgia Rose/Lauren Lui (NU), 5-4, DNF
2. Samantha Murray/Suzie Matzenauer (NU) def. Renata Kucerkova/Anastasia Petukhova (FS), 8-5
3. Maria Mosolova/Nazlie Ghazal (NU) def. Danon Beatty/Jacqueline Haskett (FS), 8-2
Order of finish: 3, 2
SINGLES
1. Maria Mosolova (NU) def. Melanie Gloria (FS), 6-3, 6-2
2. Anastasia Petukhova (FS) def. Georgia Rose (NU), 6-4, 6-4
3. Renata Kucerkova (FS) vs. Samantha Murray (NU), 5-4, DNF
4. *Lauren Lui (NU) def. Tinesta Rowe (FS) 7-6 (7-4), 6-2
5. Jacqueline Haskett (FS) vs. Nazlie Ghazal (NU), 6-3, 4-6, DNF
6. Suzie Matzenauer (NU) def. Danon Beatty (FS), 6-2, 6-3
Order of finish: 6, 1, 2, 4
* Clinched match
-WAC-