Fresno State Athletics
Bulldogs Win Three at NCAA Tournament
5/22/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
May 22, 2008
FRESNO, Calif. - The Bulldogs are on a roll at the NCAA tournament.
No. 16 Melanie Gloria started the day on a positive note for Fresno State as she advanced to the Round of 16 as UCLA's Andrea Remynse retired due to an injury. Remynse bowed out after Gloria took a 4-3 lead, granting the Bulldog her second trip to the singles Sweet 16.
On the doubles side, Fresno State entered the doubles tournament as the only team with two pairs qualified and after the first round, both Bulldog doubles are still in the game.
Renata Kucerkova and Anastasia Petukhova opened the doubles tournament for Fresno State. The No.33 Bulldogs faced a tough foe in the Florida's Megan Alexander and Marrit Boonstra, who ranked among the top eight. But Fresno State didn't flinch, taking down the Gators, 6-3, 6-4. The `Dogs (42-7) will face Alex Haney and Melissa Koning of Auburn in the Round of 16 on Friday at 12 p.m.
The No. 2 doubles pair of Gloria and Tinesta Rowe followed suit. Gloria and Rowe battled down Sophie Grabiniski and Sanaz Marand of North Carolina in three sets, 6-3, 5-7, 6-4. This is the pairs' first win in the doubles tournament after last year's loss to a team from Tennessee last season in the first round. Gloria and Rowe (34-8) will take on Arkansas's Ela Kaluder and Aurelija Miseviciute Friday at 3 p.m.
The Bulldogs have a tradition of excellence in doubles at the NCAA Championship. In 2006, Lucia Sainz and Katharina Winterhalter rolled through the NCAA Doubles Championship, coming up just short of winning the national title.
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