Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
Saint Mary's
No. 26 'Dogs defeat Saint Mary's 6-1
2/28/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
By Josh Mitchell
jomitchell@csufresno.edu
GoBulldogs.com
FRESNO, Calif. - In its first weekend of the season playing at Spalding G. Wathen Tennis Center, the No. 26 Fresno State women's tennis team completed the weekend sweep with a 6-1 victory over Saint Mary's on Sunday. The win ended a five-match losing streak to the Gaels that dated back to 2010.
"It was a great weekend here to continue our dominant stretch at home, defeating an undefeated Washington State team, and then beating a very good Saint Mary's team," Fresno State head coach Ryan Stotland said. "It feels really good, especially knowing that we didn't play our best tennis, but we just got through the matches. We have a lot of confidence in each and every person the court and I think that showed with how we played and how we finished."
Fresno State's No. 3 doubles of the Sofya Malysheva and Oliva Noble started the 'Dogs off on the right foot with a 6-2 win over Emma Critser and Kareean Manji. Before the No. 25 duo Mayar and Rana Sherif Ahmed could finish off its match against No. 60 Jana McCord Jamie Pawid, Anneka and Sophie Watts claimed the doubles point for the 'Dogs with a 6-3 win over Clementine Clement and Aniek Van Rossum on court two.
No. 30 Mayar Sherif Ahmed gave Fresno State a 2-0 advantage as the sophomore cruised to a 6-3, 6-2 win against Van Rossum. Malysheva then put the Bulldogs on the brink of the dual match victory as she defeated Manji 6-3, 6-4 at the No. 5 spot. Galina Bykova then earned the clinch for the 'Dogs on court four as she topped Manji, 6-2, 6-4.
With the win secured, Fresno State suffered its lone loss of the day on court two as Rana Sherif Ahmed fell to McCord. After rolling to a 6-3 win in the first set against Nommensen at the No. 6 spot, Anneka Watts fended off the Gael with a 7-1 tiebreak win in the second set. Twin sister Sophie Watts went through a pair of tiebreaks in the opening two sets before finally picking up the Bulldogs' final win of the day with a 10-4 tiebreak.
Fresno State will head to Northridge, Calif., next week as the team will face CSUN on Feb. 5 and Hawai'i on Feb. 6. Both matches are set to begin at 11 a.m. PT.
Saint Mary's vs Fresno State
Feb 28, 2016
Fresno, Calif.
(Spalding G. Wathen Tennis Center)
#26 Fresno State 6, Saint Mary's 1
Singles competition
1. #30 Mayar Sherif Ahmed (FS) def. Aniek Van Rossum (SMC) 6-3, 6-2
2. Jana McCord (SMC) def. Rana Sherif Ahmed (FS) 6-3, 6-2
3. Sophie Watts (FS) def. Emma Critser (SMC) 6-7 (4-7), 7-6 (7-3), 1-0 (10-4)
4. Galina Bykova (FS) def. Clementine Clement (SMC) 6-3, 6-4
5. Sofya Malysheva (FS) def. Kareena Manji (SMC) 6-2, 6-4
6. Anneka Watts (FS) def. Vanessa Nommensen (SMC) 6-3, 7-6 (7-1)
Doubles competition
1. #25 Mayar Sherif Ahmed/Rana Sherif Ahmed (FS) vs. #60 Jana McCord/Jamie Pawid (SMC) 5-2, unfinished
2. Anneka Watts/Sophie Watts (FS) def. Clementine Clement/Aniek Van Rossum (SMC) 6-3
3. Sofya Malysheva/Olivia Noble (FS) def. Emma Critser/Kareena Manji (SMC) 6-2
Match Notes:
Saint Mary's 2-6
Fresno State 7-4; National ranking #26
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2); Singles (1,5,4,2,6,3)
Players Mentioned
