Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
Pepperdine
No. 21 Fresno State Bounces No. 43 Pepperdine 5-2
2/14/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
Feb. 14, 2004
FRESNO, Calif. - More stellar play from freshman Jelena Pandzic led 21st-ranked Fresno State to a 5-2 victory over No. 43 Pepperdine on Saturday at the Ralphs-Straus Tennis Center in Malibu, Calif.
In just her third match at the college level, Pandzic continued to impress, winning in both singles and doubles as the Bulldogs improved to 2-1.
Pepperdine, which upset No. 29 San Diego State two days ago, lost its first match and is now 4-1.
"I thought we were much sharper today than yesterday," interim head coach Simon Thibodeau said in reference to his team's 4-3 loss to the No. 8 Bruins. "We played with a lot of confidence against a very good team. Obviously, yesterday was disappointing to play [eighth-ranked] UCLA so close and lose, but it is very nice to win here and come away with a split on this trip."
Fresno State came out of the blocks hot, sweeping the doubles to win the point for the 13th time in its last 14 matches. At No. 1, Pandzic teamed with Lucia Tallo to breeze past Merve Asimgil and Natalie Braverman 8-3. Also winning were Lucia Sainz and Katharina Winterhalter at No. 2 and Courtney Jantz and Vlatka Jovanovic at No. 3.
In singles, Pandzic improved to 3-0 this year, and 2-0 against ranked opponents, by schooling the 67th-ranked Braverman 6-1, 6-0.
Tallo at No. 2 followed suit, dispatching Charlotte Vernaz 6-4, 6-1. Also posting straight set victories were Winterhalter at No. 3 and Sainz at No. 5.
Fresno State is in the midst of a brutal stretch which sees the team play seven matches away from home, all against nationally-ranked opponents. The Bulldogs continue their trek on Monday when they play top-ranked Stanford in Palo Alto, Calif.
No. 21 Fresno State def. No. 43 Pepperdine, 5-2
Doubles (Fresno State wins point)
1) Tallo/Pandzic (FS) def. Asimgil/Braverman (Pepp), 8-3
2) Sainz/Winterhalter (FS) def. 8-3 Dickes/Schlapbach (Pepp), 8-3
3) Jantz/Jovanovic (FS) def. Sissler/Vernaz (Pepp), 8-2
Singles
1) Jelena Pandzic def. #67 Natalie Braverman (Pepp), 6-1, 6-0
2) Lucia Tallo def. Charlotte Vernaz (Pepp), 6-4, 6-1
3) Katharina Winterhalter def. Merve Asimgil (Pepp), 6-4, 7-5
4) Karin Schlapbach (Pepp) def. Vlatka Jovanovic (FS), 6-2, 6-7 (3), (10-8)
5) Lucia Sainz (FS) def. Eva Dickes (Pepp), 6-3, 6-4
6) Lise Sissler (Pepp) def. Courtney Jantz (FS), 6-3, 6-1
Records: Fresno State (2-1); Pepperdine (4-1)
