Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
Denver
Bulldogs Advance Against Denver
1/31/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
Jan. 31, 2009
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - It took all three sets, but Fresno State's Laura Pola defeated Denver's Kyla Iwinski to clinch a 4-3 victory for the No. 15 Bulldogs over the No. 28 Pioneers in the first qualifying match in Nashville, Tenn. for National Team Indoors.
Pola lost the first set to Iwinski by a narrow 6-7 margin. But the freshman from Ottawa, Canada battled back and won the next sets 6-2, 6-4, to win the match.
"Laura showed a lot of courage, and guts under pressure. She showed a lot of fight." Fresno State Simon Thibodeau said. "She never gave up, she stayed positive and came back. She showed a lot of composure for a freshman."
No. 29 Anastasia Petukhova also picked up a win in singles action, with a 6-1, 6-1 triumph over Annette Aksdal.
Once again the Bulldogs were dominant in doubles action, winning all three matches. No. 23 Melanie Gloria and Tinesta Rowe tandem looked impressive for the Bulldogs, with a 8-4 victory over Ute Schnoy and Iwinski.
Renata Kucerkova and Petukhova, the second-ranked doubles team in the nation, were beating Julia Bauregger and Mallory Voelker 7-6 when the match was abandoned because the doubles point had been decided.
Thibodeau also said he was impressed with the effort from his competitors.
"We knew Denver would be very difficult to beat, they wouldn't give anything away," Thibodeau said. "I have to give it to Denver, they gave everything they had."
This Sunday at noon PST Fresno State will play the winner of the Vanderbilt and Wake Forest match. The winner of the match on Sunday will be invited to Madison, Wisc. for the National Team Indoors Sweet 16.
NCAA Women's Tennis
NCAA National Team Indoor Men's Qualifying
January 31, 2009 - Nashville, Tenn.
No. 15 Fresno State def. No. 28 Denver, 4-3
Doubles (Fresno State wins doubles point)
1) Kucerkova/Petukhova (FSU) def. Bauregger/Voelker (Den), 7-6, abandoned
2) Gloria/Rowe (FSU) def Iwinski/Schnoy (Den), 8-4
3) Fresno State wins by default
Order of Completion: 3, 2, 1
Singles
1) Mallory Voelker (Den) def. Melanie Gloria (FS), 6-2, 6-4
2) Anastasia Petukhova (FS) def. Annette Aksdal (Den), 6-1, 6-1
3) Ute Schnoy (Den) def. Renata Kucerkova, 6-2, 6-2
4) Julia Bauregger (Den) def. Tinesta Rowe, 6-1, 6-3
5) Laura Pola (FS) def. Kyla Iwinski (Den), 6-7, 6-2, 6-4
6) Fresno State wins by default
Order of Completion: 6, 2, 4, 3, 1, 5*
Players Mentioned
