Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
NCAA Singles/Doubles Tournament
Petukhova and Kucerkova Advance to Second Round
5/21/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
May 21, 2009
FRESNO, Calif. - Fresno State's Anastasia Petukhova and Renata Kucerkova defended their distinction as the top doubles combination in the nation, by knocking off No. 27 Natasha Vuckovic and Ana Zubori of South Carolina, 6-2, 6-4, to advance to the Round of 16 on Thursday in College Station, Texas.
Vuckovic and Zubori put some points on the board, but the top-ranked Bulldog duo was too dominant, as they advanced to the second round of the NCAA Doubles Tournament.
"I am glad we won today for the first round," Kucerkova said. "The South Carolina team fought well and had some good moments but we are ready to go all the way to reach the title."
Petukhova and Kucerkova will play No. 56 Charleen Haarhoff and Nadine Fahoum of Old Dominion on Friday at noon PT for the Round of 16.
Also in doubles action for the Bulldogs, No. 15 Tinesta Rowe and Melanie Gloria battle back from early deficits against No. 24 Georgia Rose and Lauren Lui, but the Wildcat combo prevailed 7-6 (8-6), 6-4.
Gloria and Rowe found themselves down 3-0 in the first set, but won six of the next nine matches to force a tiebreaker. In the tiebreaker, neither team held a two-point lead until Rose and Lui clinched the set with an 8-6 victory.
In the second set, Gloria and Rowe found themselves down 3-1 again, but pulled it as close as 5-4. However the Wildcats finished the set and match by winning the next game.
In singles action, No. 18 Gloria faced off against No. 30 Reka Zsilinszka of Duke in the Round of 32. The Blue Devil sophomore advanced to the Round of 16 with a 6-3, 6-1 victory.
Gloria ends her career as a two-time All-American in singles and doubles, four-time WAC Player of the Year and the second winningest singles player in Fresno State history with 123 victories.
NCAA WOMEN'S TENNIS
NCAA Singles and Doubles Tournament
May 21, 2009 - College Station, Texas
NCAA Singles Tournament
Second Round (May 21)
No. 30 Reka Zsilinszka (DUKE) def. No. 18 Melanie Gloria (FS) 6-3, 6-1
NCAA Doubles Tournament
First Round (May 21)
No. 1 Petukhova/Kucerkova (FS) def. Vuckovic/Zubori (SC) 6-2, 6-4
No. 24 Lui/Rose (NW) def. No. 15 Rowe/Gloria (FS) 7-6 (8-6), 6-4
"Join the State - Fresno State" - The No. 1 doubles team in the country, Renata Kucerkova and Anastasia Petukhova, will compete in the second round of the NCAA Doubles Tournament on Friday in College Station, Texas. Follow the 'Dogs throughout the season on www.gobulldogs.com.
