Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
Northwestern
Bulldogs Push No. 1 Northwestern to Edge
3/27/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
March 27, 2009
FRESNO, Calif. - Once again, No. 15 Fresno State showed it deserved to be among the elite in college tennis. Friday the Bulldogs gave top-ranked Northwestern all it can handle in a narrow 4-3 Wildcats victory in San Diego.
Last week the Bulldogs knocked off No. 5 California in Berkley, Calif., and followed that up by pushing No. 1 Northwestern to edge on a neutral court.
Fresno State's No. 19 Melanie Gloria recorded a major upset of No. 2 Maria Mosolova, 6-4, 4-6, (10-4) on Friday. The defending three-time WAC Player of the Year made a statement by taking the first set, and then finished strong in the super-tiebreaker, 10-4, to close the match out.
"We know Mel is one of the top players in country, and that win is not a surprise," head coach Simon Thibodeau said. "She should be a Top 10 player. Today she played like the No. 1 player."
Gloria is now 2-2 all time against Mosolova, with her last victory coming on Nov. 1, 2007, a 6-1, 7-6 (0) win at the National Intercollegiate Indoors.
Tinesta Rowe was ahead of No. 104 Lauren Lui, 7-6 (7-4), 3-3, when Lui defaulted in the second set.
Bulldog senior Danon Beatty played strong for the Bulldogs, and recorded a 7-6, 6-1 win over Northwestern's Keri Robison.
The top-ranked doubles combo in the nation, Anastasia Petukhova and Renata Kucerkova collected another victory over a Top 15 team, with a 9-8 (7-5) win over No. 12 Georgia Rose and Lauren Lui.
"There were some good performances in our match, we played close with the No. 1 team in the country," Thibodeau said. "We know we can win, if we play strong in the No. 1 through 6 positions. We had some good chances, next time we'll have a good opportunity to win."
The Bulldogs will travel up the coast to Long Beach, Calif., to face No. 47 Long Beach State Saturday at noon. The Bulldogs return home on April 11 for a WAC triple-header against Louisiana Tech, Utah State and New Mexico State at the Spalding G. Wathen Tennis Center.
NCAA WOMEN'S TENNIS
March 27, 2009 - San Diego, Calif.
No. 1 Northwestern def. No. 15 Fresno State, 4-3
Doubles (Northwestern wins the doubles point)
1. No. 1 Petukhova/Kucerkova (FS) def. No. 12 Rose/Lui (NW) 9-8 (7-5)
2. No. 52 Robison/Mosolova (NW) def. No. 16 Gloria/Rowe (FS) 9-8 (7-4)
3. Murray/Chernyakova (NW) def. Pola/Beatty (FS) 8-4
Order of Completion: 3, 2, 1
Singles
1. No. 19 Melanie Gloria (FS) def. No. 2 Maria Mosolova (NW) 6-4, 4-6, (10-4)
2. No. 20 Georgia Rose (NW) def. No. 28 Anastasia Petukhova (FS) 6-2, 6-3
3. No. 47 Samantha Murray (NW) def. No. 89 Renata Kucerkova (FS) 6-4, 6-3
4. Tinesta Rowe (FS) def. No. 104 Lauren Lui (NW) 7-6 (7-4), 3-3 default
5. Nazlie Ghazal (NW) def. Laura Pola (FS) 7-6 (7-5), 6-1
6. Danon Beatty (FS) def. Keri Robison (NW) 7-5, 6-1
Order of Completion: 3, 5, 2*, 6, 1, 4 "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
