Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
Arizona
Bulldogs Tame Wildcats
3/14/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
March 14, 2009
FRESNO, Calif. - The 37th-ranked Bulldog women's tennis team picked up it third win of the week, second against a ranked opponent, with a 6-1 victory over No. 59 Arizona on Saturday at the Spalding G. Wathen Tennis Center.
Fresno State has rolled this week into a combined score of 19-2 in three matches.
As has become the custom at the Wathen Tennis Center, the Bulldogs swept the doubles matches. The nation's top-ranked duo in the nation, Anastasia Petukhova and Renata Kucerkova, collected a 8-3 victory over Arizona's Natasha Marks and Claire Rietsch.
No. 9 Melanie Gloria and Tinesta Rowe beat a ranked opponent, with their 8-2 victory over No. 66 Sarah Landsman and Danielle Steinberg. Danon Beatty and Laura Pola came out on top in a tight 8-6 contest against Ariane Masschelein and Jane Huh.
Beatty was also involved a close singles match against Debora Castavy. Beatty started the match by winning the first set, 6-0, and was on the verge of facing a third set, but pulled out a 7-6 (7-5) victory in the second to close out the match.
"Danon played the way we wanted her to play," head coach Simon Thibodeau said. "We are confident she will be able to continue this level of play."
No. 88 Kucerkova clinched the victory for the Bulldogs with a 6-2, 6-3 win over Landsman.
"I am glad I could be the one to clinch the match," Kucerkova said. "All the matches were very competitive. In my match we were tied on multiple occasions, but I played a little tougher at the end of the sets, and I was able to escape with a win."
No. 25 Petukhova knocked off the Wildcats' only ranked singles player, No. 125 Marks, 6-4, 6-0. The 14th-ranked Gloria was also victorious in singles action with a 7-6 (8-6), 6-1 win over the Wildcats' Steinberg. Bulldog senior Rowe defeated Claire Rietsch, 6-2, 6-2.
"It was nice to beat a Pac-10 school," Thibodeau said. "We played Bulldog tennis and competed well, and we look forward to coming out and doing that again tomorrow against Sacramento State."
Fresno State well be in action tomorrow against Sacramento State at 11 a.m. at the Wathen Tennis Center.
NCAA WOMEN'S TENNIS
March 14, 2009 - Fresno, Calif.
No. 37 Fresno State def. No. 59 Arizona 6-1
Doubles (Fresno State wins the doubles point)
1. No. 1 Petukhova/Kucerkova (FS) def. Marks/Riestch (ARI) 8-3
2. No. 9 Gloria/Rowe (FS) def. No. 66 Steinberg/Landsman (ARI) 8-2
3. Pola/Beatty (FS) def. Mansschelein/Huh (ARI) 8-6
Order of Completion: 2, 1, 3
Singles
1. No. 14 Melanie Gloria (FS) def. Danielle Steinberg (ARI) 7-6, (8-6), 6-1
2. No. 25 Anastasia Petukhova (FS) def. No. 125 Natasha Marks (ARI) 6-4, 6-0
3. No. 88 Renata Kucerkova (FS) def. Sarah Landsman (ARI) 6-2, 6-3
4. Tinesta Rowe (FS) def. Claire Rietsch (ARI) 6-2, 6-2
5. Ariane Masschelein (ARI) def. Laura Pola (FS) 6-0, 3-6, 6-4
6. Danon Beatty (FS) def. Debora Castavy (ARI) 6-0, 7-6 (7-5)
Order of Completion: 2, 4, 3*, 6, 1, 5
"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
