Fresno State Athletics
'Dogs Duo National Doubles Team of the Year
6/5/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
June 5, 2009
FRESNO, Calif. - Fresno State's top-ranked doubles tandem of Renata Kucerkova and Anastasia Petukhova were named the 2009 ITA National Women's Doubles Team of the Year on Friday.
The pair came into the 2008-09 season with big expectations after advancing to the semifinals of the 2008 NCAA Doubles Tournament. From the start of the season, they showed they were among the elite of college tennis by knocking off Top 25 opponents in each of their first three matches.
Kucerkova and Petukhova rode the momentum through the fall to an ITA National Indoor Doubles Championship.
The duo was named the No. 1 doubles team in the country in the Feb. 19 ITA Tennis Rankings, a distinction they held until the final rankings released on May 29.
They led the Bulldogs to solid doubles play throughout the season, which helped Fresno State win its eighth-straight WAC Championship and advance to the Sweet 16 for the fourth-straight season.
Petukhova and Kucerkova compiled a 44-5 record in the 2008-09 season.
"Their record speaks for itself," head coach Simon Thibodeau said. "They won an unprecedented 44 matches together. We are thrilled to have them another year."
They earned All-American status by defeating No. 27 Natasa Vuckovic and Ana Zubori of South Carolina, 6-2, 6-4, and No. 56 Charleen Haarhoff and Nadine Fahoum of Old Dominion, 6-3, 3-6, 6-2, and advancing to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Doubles Tournament.
Both are juniors and will return for their senior seasons with the Bulldogs.
"We are Your Team!" For all the latest news on the Fresno State women's tennis, visit gobulldogs.com.
Players Mentioned
