Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
New Mexico State
No. 19 Bulldogs Top Aggies, Head to WAC Final
4/25/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
April 25, 2008
FRESNO, Calif. - Two down, one to go. The 19th-ranked Fresno State women's tennis team is just a win shy of its seventh-straight Western Athletic Conference title. The Bulldogs will look to close the deal on Saturday when they face Boise State at Noon PT in Las Cruces, N.M.
"We're excited to get another opportunity to play a good Boise State team on Saturday in the final," said head coach Simon Thibodeau, who is one win shy of 100 for his career. "I thought we really stepped up in doubles because New Mexico State was playing very well. Once we got into singles, the team executed and finished strong."
On Friday, the top-seeded Bulldogs coasted to a 4-0 shut out of New Mexico State. The 'Dogs got out to an early 1-0 lead after a tough doubles point, but carried the momentum into singles for their eighth-straight victory.
Third-ranked juniors Melanie Gloria and Tinesta Rowe edged Costa and Marks 8-6 at the No. 1 spot in doubles. Junior Danon Beatty and senior Jacqueline Haskett pulled out an 8-4 defeat of Discordia and Fagegaltier.
In singles, it was the usual performance from sophomore and 22nd-ranked Anastasia Petukhova. She won in straight-sets, defeating Zeljka Juricek at the No. 2 spot. Gloria beat Marks 6-0, 2-0 ret. and Haskett topped Costa 6-0, 6-2. The 'Dogs had won first sets in Kucerkova, Beatty and Rowe's matches, respectively.
It will be a rematch of the WAC final, again. In fact, this year's final pits Fresno State and Boise State for the third consecutive year. The 'Dogs won 4-3 in 2006 and 4-0 in 2007.
NCAA Women's Tennis (WAC Tournament - Semifinals)
Las Cruces, N.M.
April 25, 2008
No. 19 Fresno State def. New Mexico State, 4-0
Doubles (Fresno State wins doubles point)
1) No. 3 Gloria/Rowe (FS) def. Costa/Marks (NMSU), 8-6
2) No. 31 Kucerkova/Petukhova (FS) v. Eusebe/Juricek (NMSU), 5-7 DNF
3) Beatty/Haskett (FS) def. Discordia/Fagegaltier (NMSU), 8-4
Order of completion: 3, 1
Singles
1) No. 16 Melanie Gloria (FS) def. Sophia Marks (NMSU), 6-0, 2-0 ret.
2) No. 22 Anastasia Petukhova (FS) def. Zeljka Juricek (NMSU), 6-3, 6-0
3) Renata Kucerkova (FS) v. Stephanie Eusebe (NMSU), 7-6, 1-2 DNF
4) Tinesta Rowe (FS) v. Anne Fagegaltier (NMSU), 6-4, 3-1 DNF
5) * Jacqueline Haskett (FS) def. Aleksa Costa (NMSU), 6-0, 6-2
6) Danon Beatty (FS) v. Paulina Zuniga (NMSU), 6-2, 5-1
Order of completion: 1, 2, 5*
* clinched match
Records: Fresno State (19-7); New Mexico State (12-10)
Players Mentioned
