Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
Nevada
Bulldog Women Headed to the Championship
5/1/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
May 1, 2010
FRESNO, Calif. - Fresno State advanced to the finals of the WAC Tournament and chance to win its ninth-straight conference title, after defeating second-seeded Nevada, 4-1, on Saturday at the Spalding G. Wathen Tennis Center.
The Bulldogs took a 3-1 lead to start the match, but with three tightly-contested matches remaining, both teams still had a chance to come away victorious.
Fresno State freshman Melissa McQueen and Nevada's Lais Ogata split the first two sets. McQueen narrowly ousted Ogata in the final set, to pick up a 6-3, 2-6, 6-4 win and clinch the victory for the Bulldogs.
"The crowd wouldn't let me get down on myself and helped me stay positive and focused," McQueen said. "You don't want to let them, your teammates or yourself down."
Bulldog sophomore Laura Pola also was successful in singles, as she knocked off the Wolf Pack's Florence De Vrye, 6-3, 6-2.
No. 14 Anastasia Petukhova defeated Nevada's Emma Verberne in straight sets, 6-3, 6-4.
"We happy to be in the finals, but we feel like the job isn't done and we need to play with even more fire," Fresno State head coach Simon Thibodeau said. "Credit to Nevada, they played well and had a great season. We were very fortunate to come out ahead today."
In doubles Renata Kucerkova and Pola were winning, 6-2, when Nevada's Sophie Stevens and Maria Mizyuk had to retire due to injury.
The Fresno State combo of Petukhova and Julia Gragera-Cano finished off the doubles point by beating De Vrye and Aline Laurioux, 8-4.
The Bulldogs will face top seed Boise State in the WAC Championship on Sunday for an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
NCAA WOMEN'S TENNIS
May 1, 2010 - Fresno, Calif.
Fresno State 4, Nevada 1
Doubles (Fresno State wins the doubles point)
1. Kucerkova/Pola (FS) def. Mizyuk/Stevens (NEV), 6-2, retired
2. Modoc/McQueen (FS) vs. Ogata/Verberne (NEV), DNF
3. Petukhova/Gragera-Cano (FS) def. De Vrye/Laurioux (NEV), 8-4
Order of Completion: 1, 3
Singles
1. No. 99 Maria Mizuyk (NEV) def. No. 87 Renata Kucerkova (FS). 6-4, 6-1
2. No. 14 Anastasia Petukhova (FS) def. Emma Verberne (NEV), 6-3, 6-4
3. Laura Pola (FS) def. Florence De Vrye (NEV), 6-3, 6-2
4. Melissa McQueen (FS) def. Lais Ogata (NEV), 6-3, 2-6, 6-4
5. Bianca Modoc (FS) vs. Aline Laurioux (NEV), DNF
6. Julia Gragera-Cano (FS) vs. Aodhnait Lombard (NEV), DNF
Order of Completion: 3, 2, 1, 4*
"We Are Your Team" - Come help the `Dogs earn an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, as they take on Boise State for the WAC Championship on Sunday at the Spalding G. Wathen Tennis Center. For all the up to date information on Fresno State women's tennis stay logged on to gobulldogs.com.
Players Mentioned
