Fresno State Athletics
Bulldogs Back on the Road This Weekend
2/12/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
By Josh Mitchell
jomitchell@csufresno.edu
GoBulldogs.com
FRESNO, Calif. - After dodging rain last weekend to get both of its matches in, the Fresno State women's tennis team returns to the courts this weekend with road matches at Pacific on Friday at 10 a.m., PT and Santa Clara on Saturday at 2 p.m.
A Look at Pacific
The Tigers are 3-1 in 2015, winning each of its matches with 4-3 scores, but they lost their most recent matchup, a 6-1 result to Kansas in Las Vegas, Nev. The `Dogs own a 19-9 record all-time in the series, posting 16 straight wins, a streak that dates back to 1996. The Tigers won two or more points in only five of those matches.
A Look at Santa Clara
The Broncos are 2-1 on the season, dropping its most recent match, 4-1, to San Jose State on Feb. 1. Santa Clara had both of its scheduled matches over the weekend get postponed due to weather.
Fresno State has never lost to Santa Clara, holding an 8-0 all-time record against the Broncos. The `Dogs have defeated the Broncos by identical 4-3 scores in each of the last three seasons.
Last Time Out
The Bulldogs were 2-0 last weekend with wins against No. 66 Kansas State and San Francisco at the Spalding G. Wathen Tennis Center. The 5-2 defeat of the Wildcats was not only Fresno State's first win over a ranked opponent in 2015, it helped avenged the team's only home loss during third-year head coach Ryan Stotland's tenure.
In the 7-0 victory over the Dons, junior Sophie Watts knocked off No. 49 Andrea Ka to claim her first win this season over a ranked opponent.
Half Honors
Through four weeks, the Bulldogs have claimed half of the Mountain West's Player of the Week honors. Junior Rana Sherif Ahmed won first weekly honor during first week of the season.
This week, junior Sophie Watts earned the accolade after defeating No. 49 Andrea Ka of San Francisco in straight sets, 6-2, 6-3.
Family Bond
Last season, the Bulldogs twin sisters Anneka and Sophie Watts on its roster, this season they added another set of sisters. With Rana Sherif Ahmed already on the squad, her younger sister Maiar decided to join her and play at Fresno State.
Dominant Sisters
While they may have lost a an early season doubles match to No. 4 Denise Starr and Meagan Manasse of Cal by a 6-3 score, sisters Maiar and Sherif Ahmed have been otherwise dominant since joining each other on the court again. They have dropped more than a point in only two of their matches, with five of those wins coming in the No. 1 spot.
Perfect in Duals
Junior Sophie Watts and freshman Maiar Sherif Ahmed have not lost in singles play in dual matches this season, both posting 5-0 records. Watts has played every match at the No. 1 spot while Sherif Ahmed played her first match at No. 3 before moving up to No. 2.
