2008 NCAA Women's Tennis Championships Bracket
FRESNO ? In the first-ever meeting of Fresno State and Lamar, the No. 16-ranked Bulldogs defeated the Cardinals, 4-0, at the Wathen Tennis Center in the First Round of the NCAA Tennis Championships. Fresno State improves to 21-7 and advances to the Second Round of the NCAA tournament, while Lamar ends its season with a 22-3 record.
Fresno State started the match with an early lead, claiming the doubles point in less than an hour, with wins at the No. 1 and No. 2 positions. The No. 2-ranked duo of Melanie Gloria and Tinesta Rowe defeated Andrea Martinez and Mariaryeni Gutierrez at the No. 1 spot (8-2), while No. 33 Anastasia Petukhova and Renata Kucerkova clinched the doubles point after topping Manijee Ashrafi and Maria Gutierrez at the No. 2 position (8-2).
The Bulldogs maintained an early lead when singles action got underway with a commanding win by Petukhova at the No. 2 position, defeating Mariayeni Gutierrez, 6-0, 6-1. Gutierrez was previously an undefeated 25-0 on the season, with her first loss coming at the hands of Petukhova.
Senior Jacqueline Haskett tallied Fresno State’s second singles victory, picking up a win at the No. 5 spot over Manijee Ashrafi, 6-1, 6-1. Kucerkova clinched the match for the No. 16 Bulldogs with a victory over Kaltrina Harbuzi, 6-0, 6-3, at the No. 3 position.
Fresno State advances to the NCAA 2nd Round to battle No. 21 Arizona State, who defeated No. 53 Sacramento State, 4-0, in first round action. Arizona State (15-7) has two singles players ranked in the top 30, with sophomore Nadia Abdala (No. 23) and freshman Kelcy McKenna (No. 26). Fresno State is 0-2 against the Sun Devils, falling 4-3 in 2007 and 4-2 in 2003. The Bulldogs will take on the Sun Devils at 1:00 p.m. at the Wathen Tennis Center on the campus of Fresno State University.
NCAA Tennis Championships (First Round)
Wathen Tennis Center, Fresno State University
May 9, 2008
No. 16 Fresno State def. Lamar, 4-0
Doubles (Fresno State wins doubles point)
1) No. 2 Melanie Gloria/Tinesta Rowe (FS) def. Andrea Martinez/Mariaryeni Gutierrez (LMU), 8-2
2) No.33 Renata Kucerkova/Anastasia Petukhova (FS) def. Manijee Ashrafi/Maria Gutierrez (LMU), 8-2
3) Danon Beatty/Jacqueline Haskett (FS) vs. Salina Aranda/Kaltrina Harbuzi (LMU), 5-2 DNF
Order of Completion: 1, 2
Singles
1) No. 16 Melanie Gloria (FS) vs. Andrea Martinez (LMU) 6-4, 4-3 DNF
2) No. 22 Anastasia Petukhova (FS) def. Mariayeni Gutierrez (LMU) 6-0, 6-1
3) *Renata Kucerkova (FS) def. Kaltrina Harbuzi (LMU) 6-0, 6-3
4) No. 110 Tinesta Rowe (FS) vs. Maria Gutierrez (LMU) 5-7, 4-2 DNF
5) Jacqueline Haskett (FS) def. Manijee Ashrafi (LMU) 6-1, 6-1
6) Danon Beatty (FS) vs. Manami Kuroda (LMU) 6-4, 4-2 DNF
Order of Completion: 2, 5, 3
*Clinched match
NASHVILLE ? The No. 44-ranked Boise State Broncos saw their 2008 season come to an end, dropping to No. 23 Kentucky, 4-1, in their First Round match at Vanderbilt University’s Currey Tennis Center. The Broncos fell to 20-7 to end their season, while the Wildcats improved to 16-9 and advance to NCAA Second Round action on Saturday.
Boise State claimed the doubles point over the Wildcats, earning victories at the No. 1 and No. 3 positions, with Bianca Jochimsen and Klaudia Wlodarczyk defeating Sarah Wostmann and Whitney Spencer (8-5) in the No. 3 doubles spot and Polina Kokoulina and Pichittra Thongdach knocked off the No. 37-ranked duo of Carolina Escamilla and Christine Johnston (8-6) at No. 1. The Wildcats then clawed their way back, taking four-straight singles matches to clinch the 4-1 team victory.
NCAA Tennis Championships (First Round)
Currey Tennis Center, Vanderbilt University
May 9, 2008
No. 23 Kentucky def. No. 44 Boise State, 4-1
Doubles (Boise State wins doubles point)
1) Polina Kokoulina/Pichittra Thongdach (BSU) def. No. 37 Carolina Escamilla/Christine Johnston (UK), 8-6
2) Megan Broderick/Alaina Trgovich (UK) def. Laura Baum/Jana Mackova (BSU), 8-2
3) Bianca Jochimsen/Klaudia Wlodarczyk (BSU) def. Sarah Wostmann/Whitney Spencer (UK), 8-5
Order of Completion: 2, 3, 1
Singles
1) No. 85 Megan Broderick (UK) vs. Pichittra Thongdach (BSU), 6-2, 5-7 DNF
2) Carolina Escamilla (UK) def. Polina Kokoulina (BSU), 6-1, 6-3
3) *No. 101 Sarah Wostmann (UK) def. Bianca Jochimsen (BSU), 7-6 (4), 6-4
4) Christine Johnston (UK) def. Klaudia Wlodarczyk (BSU), 6-3, 6-4
5) Lauren Meier (UK) vs. Stacey Housley (BSU), 7-6 (3), 3-5 DNF
6) Whitney Spencer (UK) def. Laura Baum (BSU), 6-4, 6-1
Order of Completion: 2, 6, 4, 3
*Clinched match
-WAC-