Fresno State Athletics
Bulldogs to Face Georgia Tech
2/11/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
Feb. 11, 2009
FRESNO, Calif. - Fresno State opens the ITA National Team Indoors Sweet 16 with a match against seventh-ranked Georgia Tech on Friday at 1:30 p.m. PT in Madison, Wisc.
The Bulldogs are 2-0 in 2009 and ranked No. 13 in the country. Senior Melanie Gloria leads a strong Bulldog cast against the Yellow Jackets. The defending three-time WAC champion, Gloria, is ranked No. 17 in the country. Also ranked for the Bulldogs is junior Anastasia Petukhova at No. 29.
Georgia Tech is the highest ranked team Fresno State has faced this dual season. The Yellow Jackets have four players ranked in the Top 75 - No. 11 Amanda McDowell, No. 23 Irina Falconi, No. 27 Christy Striplin and No. 57 Noelle Hickey. Only five other schools in the country have more ranked players.
At the Freeman Invitational in January this year, the Bulldogs went 1-1 in head-to-head singles matches against the Yellow Jackets. Fresno State junior Renata Kucerkova put away Georgia Tech's Sasha Krupina in straight sets 6-2, 6-4. And the Yellow Jackets Irina Falconi defeated Gloria in the semifinals.
Both squads have a pair of excellent doubles teams. The Bulldogs have the No. 2 doubles team in the country in Kucerkova and Petukhova and the 23rd team of Tinesta Rowe and Gloria. Georgia Tech's top doubles team of Amanda McDowell and Irina Falconi is ranked fifth in the country. The Yellow Jackets also have the No. 46 doubles team of Sasha Krupina and Christina Ngo.
Depending on the result of Friday's matches, the Bulldogs will face either No. 12 Clemson or No. 2 California on Saturday. The Bulldogs will play either at 1:30 p.m., if they win on Friday, or 7 a.m., if they are unable to secure a victory on Friday.
"Join the State - Fresno State" -- The Fresno State women's tennis team is Madison, Wisc. this week as the 'Dogs compete in the ITA National Team Indoor Championships. The Bulldogs return home for a match next Thursday, Feb. 21 at 11 a.m. against the Saint Mary's Gaels. Follow the 'Dogs throughout the season on www.gobulldogs.com.
