March 18, 2007
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (SMU) - The SMU women's tennis team won the 4-3 decision over South Alabama today as the Mustangs snapped South Alabama's winning streak. With this win, the Mustangs advance to 11-4 on the season. The Mustangs took the doubles point and won three singles.
"I am very pleased with the fight our team showed this weekend," said head coach Lauren Longbotham. "We came out determined to win and we pulled together as a team to fight through it. I am really excited about where our doubles are right now. We are starting to execute better and play together. This weekend it was about fighting harder than the other team and committing to staying on the court how ever long we needed to win the match."
SMU won the doubles point with wins at No. 1 and No. 2 in what would be the winning factor in this mornings match. Natalia Bubien and Claire Rietsch commanded a 8-1 win over Adrianna Solarova and Sylvanie Spangenberg at No. 1 doubles while Jennifer Chay and Pavi Francis sealed the doubles point for the Mustangs with a 8-5 win over Rita Freitas and Jelena Krivacevic at No. 2. Monica Neveklovska and Kristen Reid were unable to overturn Michaela Babicova and Dijana Stanic at No. 3 as they fell, 8-2.
In singles action, the teams split the line-up. Rietsch soared over Yana Bokareva at No. 3, 6-1, 6-1, while Francis outlasted Krivacevic at the No. 4 spot, 7-5, 6-2. Reid notched the third Mustang win as she battled it out at No. 6 in three sets over Spangenberg, 6-2, 4-6, 6-2. Bubien was unable to top No. 46 Solarova at the No. 1 spot as she fell, 6-3, 6-2 and Chay faced No. 117 Babicova at No. 2 singles as she fell, 6-4, 6-4. Georgiana Marta faced a tough challenge with Stanic at No. 5 singles as they split the first sets and battled long into the tiebreaker. Marta was unable to get past her as she fell, 2-6, 6-4, 15-13.
The Mustangs return home for one match against Arkansas this Wed., March 21 at 2:00 p.m. before hitting the road for a C-USA match-up against Rice.
Tennis Match ResultsSouthern Methodist vs South Alabama3/18/2007 at Little Rock, Ark.
#66 Southern Methodist 4, #64 South Alabama 3
Singles competition1. #46 Adrianna Solarova (SA) def. Bubien, Natalia (SMU) 6-3, 6-22. #117 Michaela Babicova (SA) def. Chay, Jennifer (SMU) 6-4, 6-43. Rietsch, Claire (SMU) def. Yana Bokareva (SA) 6-1, 6-14. Francis, Pavi (SMU) def. Jelena Krivacevic (SA) 7-5, 6-25. Dijana Stanic (SA) def. Marta, Georgiana (SMU) 2-6, 6-4, 15-136. Reid, Kristen (SMU) def. Sylvanie Spangenberg (SA) 6-2, 4-6, 6-2
Doubles competition1. Bubien, Natalia/Rietsch, Claire (SMU) def. Adrianna Solarova/Sylvanie Spangenberg (SA) 8-12. Francis, Pavi/Chay, Jennifer (SMU) def. Rita Freitas/Jelena Krivacevic (SA) 8-53. Michaela Babicova/Dijana Stanic (SA) def. Neveklovska, Monica/Reid, Kristen (SMU) 8-2
Match Notes:Southern Methodist 11-4; National ranking #66South Alabama 7-7; National ranking #64
