Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
UNLV Rebel Classic
No. 18 Bulldogs Sweep Singles, Beat UNLV 6-1
2/24/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
Feb. 24, 2007
LAS VEGAS - The 18th-ranked Bulldogs swept all six singles matches and beat UNLV soundly 6-1, Saturday in Las Vegas. It was Fresno State's third straight win and its fourth win on the road. Fresno State improved to 5-2 on the season and handed UNLV its first lost of the year as the Rebels fell to 7-1.
"Today we took control in every singles match," said head coach Simon Thibodeau. "We really came out strong after doubles, competing with a lot of energy against a good UNLV team."
Despite losing the doubles point, Fresno State once again proved why it is the 18th-ranked team in the country. The Bulldogs had come close to winning all six singles matches on other occasions this season, but Saturday was the first. The `Dogs lost only one set at the No. 5 spot where freshman Vanessa Heroux eventually won in the super-tiebreaker.
Freshman Anastasia Petukhova clinched the match for the Bulldogs with a convincing 7-5, 6-3 over Nikol Dimitrova at the No. 3 spot. Petukhova, who earned a No. 70 national ranking on Wednesday, improved to 7-2 overall and 4-2 in dual matches.
Sophomore Tinesta Rowe was the first to finish in singles, beating Claire Smith in straight sets at the No. 4 spot. No. 2-ranked sophomore Melanie Gloria lost only one game, defeating Elena Gantcheva 6-1, 6-0. Gloria improved her overall record to 19-4 overall and 5-1 in dual matches.
Freshman Renata Kucerkova (No. 92 ranking) was solid for the second straight day, defeating Kristina Nedeltcheva in straight sets just before Petukhova clinched the match. Heroux bounced back from Friday's loss with a 7-6 (8), 2-6, (10-6) defeat of Linda Tempelfelde.
Sophomore Danon Beatty finished the clean sweep at the No. 6 spot, beating Alisa Razina 7-6 (3), 6-1. Beatty improved to 14-6 overall and 5-1 in dual matches. Beatty and Kucerkova also won for the second straight day at the No. 3 spot in the doubles lineup, defeating No. 56-ranked Razina and Smith 8-3.
Last year, the Bulldogs won all three of its matches in Las Vegas during the tournament-format event. Now the `Dogs will look to remain perfect when they take on No. 26 Long Beach State on Sunday at 10 a.m. Fresno State beat Long Beach State last year 5-2 at the Wathen Tennis Center.
Following Sunday's match, the Bulldogs will be back at the Wathen Tennis Center for their first match in over a month at home. The `Dogs host Virginia Tech on March 6 at 5 p.m. at the Wathen Tennis Center.
NCAA Women's Tennis
Feb. 24, 2007
Las Vegas
No. 18 Fresno State def. No. 39 UNLV, 6-1
Doubles (UNLV wins doubles point)
1) No. 26 Gantcheva/Nedeltcheva (UNLV) def. Gloria/Rowe (FS), 8-6
2) Dimitrova/Tempelfelde (UNLV) def. Heroux/Petukhova (FS), 8-3
3) Beatty/Kucerkova (FS) def. No. 56 Razina/Smith (UNLV), 8-3
Order of completion: 3, 2, 1
Singles
1) No. 2 Melanie Gloria (FS) def. Elena Gantcheva (UNLV), 6-1, 6-0
2) No. 92 Renata Kucerkova (FS) def. Kristina Nedeltcheva (UNLV), 6-2, 6-1
3) No. 70 Anastasia Petukhova (FS) def. Nikol Dimitrova (UNLV), 7-5, 6-3
4) Tinesta Rowe (FS) def. Claire Smith (UNLV), 6-2, 6-1
5) Vanessa Heroux (FS) def. Linda Tempelfelde (UNLV), 7-6 (8), 2-6, (10-6)
6) Danon Beatty (FS) def. Alisa Razina (UNLV), 7-6 (3), 6-1
Order of completion: 4, 1, 2, 3, 5, 6
Records: Fresno State (5-2); UNLV (7-1)
Players Mentioned
