Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
All-American Main Draw
Gloria Loses Heartbreaker in ITA All-American Final
10/8/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
Oct. 8, 2006
ITA All-American Tournament Page
FRESNO, Calif. - Sophomore Melanie Gloria was defeated by California's 12th-ranked Suzi Babos in the third set tiebreaker, 5-7, 6-3, 7-6 (8), Sunday at the Riviera/Intercollegiate Tennis Association's All-American in Pacific Palisades, Calif. Gloria had won four straight, just missing a national title before falling to Babos, the 2006 NCAA champion.
"It's obviously disappointing, but Melanie played a great match," said head coach Simon Thibodeau. "She had opportunities here and there to pull out the win. But it still was a good performance in her first tournament of the year."
The third set tiebreaker was as tight as it gets. Babos took an early 4-0 lead, but Gloria eventually tied it at 5-5. Down 6-5, Gloria saved match point and even had two match points of her own. But Babos finally broke free to win the tiebreaker 10-8.
Despite falling in the final, Gloria's run to the title match was impressive. Gloria, ranked 19th in the country, beat No. 10 Megan Moulton Levy of William and Mary in straight sets in the quarterfinals. Gloria followed in the semifinals with a convincing straight set victory over No. 1 Audra Cohen of Miami, the 2004 singles All-American champ.
It is the second time in as many seasons that members of the Fresno State women's tennis team have reached the finals of the All-American. Former Bulldogs Lucia Sainz and Katharina Winterhalter were finalists in the doubles All-American in 2005.
Gloria will be a key component to Fresno State's run at another Western Athletic Conference title when the dual match season gets underway in 2007. Gloria went 20-5 playing No. 1 singles for the Bulldogs during the 2006 dual season, earning the WAC's Player and Freshman of the Year awards.
Gloria and other members of the Bulldogs will return to the courts for the ITA Northwest Regionals Oct. 20-22 in Berkeley, Calif. Gloria has automatically qualified for and will participate in the ITA National Indoor Championships, which begin Nov. 2.
No. 19 Melanie Gloria at the ITA All-American
Round of 32: def. Megan Falcon (LSU), 6-4, 6-2 (Oct. 5, 2006)
Round of 16: def. Katrina Tsang (UNC), 6-2, 6-3 (Oct. 6, 2006)
Quarterfinals: def. No. 10 Megan Moulton Levy (WM), 6-3, 7-6 (5) (Oct. 6, 2006)
Semifinals: def. No. 1 Audra Cohen (MIA), 6-3, 6-2 (Oct. 7, 2006)
Final: lost to No. 12 Suzi Babos (CAL), 5-7, 6-3, 7-6 (8) (Oct. 8, 2006)
