Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
Sacramento State
`Dogs Defend Home From Hornets
3/15/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
March 15, 2009
FRESNO, Calif. - The 37th-ranked Fresno State women's tennis team recorded its fourth win of the week with a 7-0 shutout of No. 34 Sacramento State on Sunday at the Spalding G. Wathen Tennis Center.
It was also the Bulldogs' third victory over a ranked opponent this week. Earlier in the week, Fresno State defeated unranked Penn, 7-0, No. 21 TCU, 6-1, and No. 59 Arizona, 6-1. The Bulldogs are now 8-4 on the season.
The nation's top doubles team of Bulldogs Anastasia Petukhova and Renata Kucerkova set the tone for the match with a 8-0 win against Luba Schifris and Melissa Valenzuela.
"We played like a true No. 1 team today," Petukhova said. "They (Schifris and Valenzuela) are a very good team and they were really pumped up to play us, but we showed we are a better team."
The Bulldogs' other Top 10 doubles team, seniors Melanie Gloria and Tinesta Rowe, dominated their way to a 8-3 victory over Clarisse Baca and Joyce Martinez Gutierrez.
In singles, No. 88 Kucerkova was the first of the Bulldogs to finish, after a 6-4, 6-0 victory over Baca. No. 25 Petukhova clinched the match by defeating Schifris, 6-1, 6-4.
Laura Pola, Danon Beatty, Rowe and No. 14 Gloria also picked up singles wins for the Bulldogs.
"With four wins this week, it shows how well we can play," head coach Simon Thibodeau said. "It is a great way to prepare for next week. Those four wins will help us get to where we want to be."
The `Dogs will travel to Berkley, Calif. to take on California on March 21. The next home match with be a tripleheader on April 11 against Louisiana Tech, Utah State and New Mexico State at the Wathen Tennis Center.
NCAA WOMEN'S TENNIS
March 15, 2009 - Fresno, Calif.
No. 37 Fresno State def. No. 34 Sacramento State 7-0
Doubles (Fresno State wins the doubles point)
1. No. 1 Petukhova/Kucerkova (FS) def. Schifris/Valenzuela (SAC) 8-0
2. No. 9 Gloria/Rowe (FS) def. Baca/Martinez (SAC) 8-3
3. Tsan/Meliuk (SAC) def. Beatty/Pola (FS) 8-2
Order of Completion: 1, 3, 2
Singles
1. No. 14 Melanie Gloria (FS) def. Maria Meliuk (SAC) 6-2, 6-4
2. No. 25 Anastasia Petukhova (FS) def. Luba Schifris (SAC) 6-1, 6-4
3. No. 88 Renata Kucerkova (FS) def. Clarisse Baca (SAC) 6-4, 6-0
4. Tinesta Rowe (FS) def. Melissa Valenzuela (SAC) 6-3, 6-3
5. Laura Pola (FS) def. Joyce Martinez Gutierrez (SAC) 6-4, 6-3
6. Danon Beatty (FS) def. Milica Zivanovic (SAC) 6-1, 6-2
Order of Completion: 3, 6, 2*, 5, 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
