Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
TCU
Bulldogs Down TCU
3/12/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
March 12, 2009
FRESNO, Calif. - The No. 37 Fresno State women's tennis team showed it is poised to make a return to the Top 25, with a 6-1 route over the 21st-ranked TCU Horned Frogs on Saturday at the Spalding G. Wathen Tennis Center.
In addition to the team victory, senior Melanie Gloria reached a personal milestone with her 106th career win, putting her in sole possession of second place on Fresno State's career wins list.
"I am grateful to have the opportunity achieve such an honor," Gloria said. "Hopefully I will be able to continue the success the rest of the season."
For the fourth time at home this season, the Bulldogs swept the doubles competition. The nation's top-ranked doubles team of Anastasia Petukhova and Renata Kucerkova added another win to their impressive record, but were pushed hard by TCU's 21st-ranked Anna Sydorska and Macall Harkins. In the end, the Bulldog duo prevailed, 9-7.
The No. 9 team of Gloria and Tinesta Rowe picked up an 8-7 (7-5), tie-breaker win over Katariina Tuohimaa and Kayla Duncan. Laura Pola and Danon Beatty also picked up a 9-7 win for the Bulldogs against Gaby Mastromarino and Maria Babanova.
Pola also picked up a win in singles action over Maria Babanova, 6-3, 6-2.
"I tried to be aggressive and stick to the game plan that I wanted to play," Pola said. "I reevaluated my structure of play, and I'm happy I came out strong today."
Kucerkova clinched the win for the Bulldogs with a 6-4, 6-1 victory against Katariina Tuohimaa on the third court.
Petukhova and Rowe also picked up singles wins for the Bulldogs.
"We definitely showed we belong in the Top 15 by beating a very good TCU team, 6-1," said head coach Simon Thibodeau. "If we play like this we could conceivably be a Top 10 team."
The Bulldogs will have one day off before facing No. 59 Arizona on Saturday at 10:30 a.m. at the Wathen Tennis Center. The Bulldogs then finish off the grueling weekend with a match on Sunday at 11 a.m. against No. 34 Sacramento State.
NCAA WOMEN'S TENNIS
March 12, 2009 - Fresno, Calif.
No. 37 Fresno State def. No. 21 TCU, 6-1
Doubles (Fresno State wins the doubles point)
1. No. 1 Petukhova/Kucerkova (FS) def. No. 21 Sydorska/Harkins (TCU) 9-7
2. No. 9 Rowe/Gloria (FS) def. Tuohimaa/Duncan (TCU) 8-7 (7-5)
3. Beatty/Pola (FS) def. Mastromarino/Babanova (TCU) 9-7
Order of Completion: 3, 1, 2
Singles
1. No. 14 Melanie Gloria (FS) def. No. 89 Macall Harkins (TCU) 6-4, 6-2
2. No. 25 Anastasia Petukhova (FS) def. Kayla Duncan (TCU) 6-0, 7-5
3. No. 88 Renata Kucerkova (FS) def. Katariina Tuohimaa (TCU) 6-4, 6-1
4. Tinesta Rowe (FS) def. Gaby Mastromarino (TCU) 7-5, 6-1
5. Laura Pola (FS) def. Maria Babanova (TCU) 6-3, 6-2
6. Idunn Hertzberg (TCU) def. Danon Beatty (FS) 6-3, 6-3
Order of Completion: 5, 2, 3*, 6, 4, 1
"Join the State - Fresno State" -- The Bulldogs return to the Spalding G. Wathen Tennis Center on April 11 for their WAC home opener, a tripleheader against Louisiana Tech, Utah State and New Mexico State. Follow the 'Dogs throughout the season on www.gobulldogs.com.
Players Mentioned
