March 24, 2006

HOUSTON (SMU) - Clutch - persistence - perhaps two words that describe the recent performances of the SMU women's tennis team. After pulling out a close match earlier this week against Arkansas, the Mustangs traveled to Houston to take on conference opponent Rice. Behind after half of the singles play, the Mustangs rallied for the 4-3 win over the Owls. The Mustangs improve to 11-5 on the season and remain undefeated in conference play while notching two wins.

The Owls took the early lead as they won the doubles point with wins at the No.1 and No. 2 spots. At the No. 3 position, Brooke Rambally and Halley Rambally outlasted Tiffany Lee and Christine Dao, 8-5. The No. 1 duo of Natalia Bubien and Svetlana Kouzmenko were defeated by Blair DiSesa and Medeja Egic, 8-5 while at the No. 2 position, the psir of Monica Neveklovska and Georgiana Marta fell to Kimberley Patenaude and Alanna Rodgers, 8-4.

"It was tough to lose the doubles point," said head coach Rob Howarth, "but we had four girls step up in singles competition and fight through it."

No. 1 singles was the first pair to finish as #65 DiSesa downed Kouzmenko, 6-1, 6-2. At No. 5 singles, B. Rambally held on to beat Rodgers, 6-1, 7-5 while Bubien was not able to overcome Dao at the No.2 spot, 7-6 (1), 6-3.

A trio that could be the newest addition to the comeback kids had the match in their control. Down 3-1 and the sets split, it came down to who could outlast who. In a battle that lasted a little over four hours, the Mustangs mustered the strength to prevail. H. Rambally came back from and 6-4 loss in the first set to control Emily Braid at the No. 6 spot. H. Rambally won, 4-6, 6-1, 6-2. At the No. 4 spot, Reid split the first two sets with Egic, but rallied for the victory, 2-6, 6-4, 6-3. Four times this season, the match decision has rested on the shoulders of Marta. On Monday she pulled through for the win, and she did not disappoint today. Marta was persistent and defeated Lee at the No. 3 spot, 2-6, 6-0, 6-3.

"It was a great conference win," Howarth said. "It is always hard to come here and play at Rice. The girls showed how hard they could fight and they laid everything out there for the win. They really wanted the win and they fought for it. I'm really proud of how they competed."

The Mustangs will face Texas Southern next on Sat., March 25at 9 a.m.

ResultsNo. 53 SMU 4, Rice 3Doubles1. DiSesa/Egic (RU) def. Bubien/Kouzmenko (SMU), 8-52. Kimberley Patenaude/Rodgers (RU) def. Nevekloska/Marta (SMU), 8-43. Rambally/Rambally (SMU) def. Lee/Dao (RU), 8-5
Singles1. #65 Blair DiSesa (RU) def. Svetlana Kouzmenko (SMU), 6-1, 6-22. Christine Dao (RU) def. Natalia Bubien (SMU), 7-6 (1), 6-3*3. Georgiana Marta (SMU) def. Tiffany Lee (RU), 2-6, 6-0, 6-34. Kristen Reid (SMU) def. Medeja Egic (RU), 2-6, 6-4, 6-35. Brooke Rambally (SMU) def. Alanna Rodgers (RU), 6-1, 7-56. Halley Rambally (SMU) def. Emily Braid (RU), 4-6, 6-1, 6-27. Kimberley Patenaude (RU) def. Monica Neveklovska (SMU), 7-9
Order of Finish: D1, D3, D2, S1, S5, S2, S6, S4, S3*