Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
Air Force
No. 34 `Dogs Top Air Force 7-0
3/29/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
By Josh Mitchell
jomitchell@csufresno.com
GoBulldogs.com
USAF Academy, Colo. -- With five singles matches going three sets, the No. 34 Fresno State women's tennis team was forced to a grind out a 7-0 win at Air Force on Sunday.
"The team got it done today against a relentless Air Force team. The 7-0 score doesn't reflect how tough these matches were as they were all battles, but our team found a way to win in each of them," head coach Ryan Stotland said. "It was a great atmosphere and a tough challenge. We remained poised like the best teams do in tough circumstances and will take this victory and get better as we always do."
Fresno State (14-3) claimed the upper hand in doubles play behind a 6-3 victory from Maiar and Rana Sherif Ahmed at No. 1 as the sisters extended their winning streak to 16 matches. A 7-6 loss on court three to the Air Force (6-4) team of Chloe Forlini and Jocelle Rudico, though, meant that the doubles point would rest on Anneka and Sophie Watts. The twins were able to pull out a 7-5 win at No. 2 to secure the point.
After grabbing the opening set at No. 4, on a 10-5 tiebreak, Aishwarya Agrawal put the `Dogs up 2-0 after claiming the second set, 6-2, in the only two-set win for Fresno State on the day.
Rana Sherif Ahmed then began the string of three- set victories for the Bulldogs, winning 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 on court three. No. 59 Sophie Watts then clinched the dual match on court one, coming back to win after dropping the opening set.
The `Dogs will return home on April 3 as the team hosts Senior Day against Nevada. The dual match with the Wolf Pack is scheduled to start at 12 p.m., PT.
Fresno State vs Air Force
Mar 29, 2015 at USAF Academy, Colo.
#34 Fresno State 7, Air Force 0
Singles competition
1. #59 Sophie Watts (FS) def. Natasha Rizvi (AF) 4-6, 6-3, 6-1
2. Maiar Sherif Ahmed (FS) def. Mary Meyers (AF) 7-6 (3), 4-6, 6-2
3. Rana Sherif Ahmed (FS) def. Chloe Forlini (AF) 6-4, 3-6, 6-3
4. Aishwarya Agrawal (FS) def. Tracy Landram (AF) 7-6 (5), 6-2
5. Anne Susdorf (FS) def. Lily Forlini (AF) 5-7, 6-1, 6-0
6. Tanya Murtagh (FS) def. Jocelle Rudico (AF) 6-3, 5-7, 7-5
Doubles competition
1. Maiar Sherif Ahmed/Rana Sherif Ahmed (FS) def. Tracy Landram/Natasha Rizvi (AF) 6-3
2. Anneka Watts/Sophie Watts (FS) def. Lily Forlini/Mary Meyers (AF) 7-5
3. Chloe Forlini/Jocelle Rudico (AF) def. Sofya Malysheva/Tanya Murtagh (FS) 7-6 (4)
Match Notes:
Fresno State 14-3; National ranking #34
Air Force: 6-4
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3,2); Singles (4,3,1,5,2,6)
Players Mentioned
