Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
Washington State<BR>(UNLV Invitational)
No. 14 Bulldogs Beat No. 63 Washington State 5-2
2/28/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
Feb. 28, 2004
FRESNO, Calif. - Katharina Winterhalter returned to the singles lineup and helped spur No. 14 Fresno State to a 5-2 victory over 63rd-ranked Washington State on Saturday in the semifinals of the UNLV Invitational in Las Vegas.
The win was the fourth in a row for the Bulldogs (5-1), which advanced to the championship match. Fresno State will play No. 27 Tulane tomorrow at noon for the tournament title.
Washington State (2-4) lost for the third time in four matches.
"We played much better today all around the lineup," interim head coach Simon Thibodeau said. "In most parts of our lineup, we improved, and that's something that is very positive. We'll need to play just as well tomorrow, because that's a very good Tulane team we are facing."
The Bulldogs jumped on top immediately by sweeping the doubles for an early 1-0 lead. The No. 1 team of Jelena Pandzic and Lucia Tallo won for the third straight time in defeating Orsolya Sallai and Chris Martinez 8-2.
Once again, the pace in singles was set by Pandzic, Fresno State's freshman sensation who just keeps on rolling. She took out Sallai easily by scores of 6-3, 6-1. Ranked 29th, Pandzic is now a perfect 6-0 -- with only one lost set -- since joining the team in January.
In addition to Pandzic at No. 1, the Bulldogs received solid play from all three spots at the top of their singles lineup. Tallo, at No. 2, defeated Lorena Arias 6-3, 6-2 while Winterhalter took out Martinez 7-6 (4), 6-4.
Winterhalter's victory came a day after she sat out the singles against Boston College due to a sore shoulder. Without Winterhalter, the Bulldogs barely snuck by the unranked Eagles 4-3.
"It's good to get Katharina back in the lineup," Thibodeau said. "She's such a big part of our team in both singles and doubles."
Fresno State's fifth point came courtesy of Lucia Sainz at No. 5. She took out Amy Toth 6-4, 7-6 (2).
No. 14 Fresno State def. No. 63 Washington State, 5-2
Doubles (Fresno State wins point)
1. Pandzic/Tallo (FS) def. Sallai/Martinez (WSU), 8-2
2. Sainz/Winterhaller (FS) def. Arias/Fodor (WSU), 8-4
3. Jantz/Jovanovic (FS) def. Toth/Gaal (WSU), 8-4
Singles
1. #29 Jelena Pandzic (FS) def. Orsolya Sallai (WSU), 6-3, 6-1
2. Lucia Tallo (FS) def. Lorena Arias (WSU), 6-3, 6-2
3. Katharina Winterhaller (FS) def. Chris Martinez (WSU), 7-6 (4), 6-4
4. Nora Gaal (WSU) def. Vlatka Jovanovic (FS), 6-4, 6-0
5. Lucia Sainz (FS) def. Amy Toth (WSU), 6-4, 7-6 (2)
6. Zsofia Fodor (WSU) def. Courtney Jantz (FS), 6-4, 6-3
Records: Fresno State (5-1); Washington State (2-4)
