Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
National Indoor Championships
`Dogs Dominate National Indoor, Win Title
11/9/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
Nov. 9, 2008
FRESNO, Calif. - The Fresno State women's tennis team concluded the fall season in the best possible way, returning from the 2008 ITA National Indoor Championships with a national title courtesy of juniors Renata Kucerkova and Anastasia Petukhova.
Kucerkova and Petukhova capped off a dazzling run through the doubles tournament with a victory over Tefft/Frilling of Notre Dame.
"I'm so proud of Renata and Anastasia for winning the first national title for Fresno State tennis," said head coach Simon Thibodeau. "They were very deserving after coming so close to the championship at the ITA All-American."
The Fighting Irish duo took the first set from Kucerkova and Petukhova 6-4, but the Bulldogs would storm back to take the second set 6-2. Kucerkova/Petukhova then finished off Tefft/Frilling in the third set to bring home the title 4-6, 6-2, 7-6.
"It was such an intense tournament, we had to quickly adapt to playing indoors," added Petukhova. "The whole weekend, I was thinking this is our chance to step up and finally win a national championship.
The Bulldog tandem of Kucerkova and Petukhova finish an incredible fall season with an ITA Northwest Regional championship, an ITA National Indoor championship, and a record of 12-1. The `Dogs lone loss came in the finals of the ITA All-American tournament.
"Anastasia and I were confident the entire weekend, we were focused since the beginning," Kucerkova said. "We've had good results throughout the fall and it felt good to finally win a national tournament after coming so close in the last two national tournaments, going back to last season's NCAA Championships."
The Bulldogs will return to the court Jan. 16, competing in the Freeman Memorial Invitational in Las Vegas, Nev.
To view the final scoreboard, visit the University of Virginia's tournament page: 2008 ITA National Indoor Championships
2008 ITA National Indoor Championships
Hosted by the University of Virginia - November 6-9, 2008
Boyd Tinsley Courts at the Boar's Head Sports Club - Charlottesville, Va.
Doubles Main Draw - Finals
No. 8 Kucerkova/Petukhova def. Tefft/Frilling (ND) 4-6, 6-2, 7-6
"Join the State - Fresno State!"- The women's tennis team will return to the court Jan. 16 at the Freeman Memorial Invitational in Las Vegas, Nev. Visit GoBulldogs.com for updates.
