Tide Defeats Ohio State in First Round of NCAA Tournament
5/16/2002 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
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The University of Alabama women’s tennis team won 4-0 over 37th ranked Ohio State on Friday in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in Knoxville, Tennessee. The win moves No. 44 Alabama to 13-10 on the season.
The Crimson Tide jumped out fast by claiming two of the three doubles matches to win the doubles point. At number one doubles, Bama’s 56th ranked combo of Millie Begovic and Weyli Chang won 8-4 over Ohio State’s 54th ranked Monica Rincon and Meaghan Colville. UA’s Becca Baum and Stefanie Leung clinched the doubles point for the Tide with a 8-4 win over OSU’s Michelle Matko and Lindsay Williams at number three doubles. The number two doubles match between Alabama’s Selia Mathew and Jenny Ketchum versus Ohio State’s Erica Fisk and Sadhaf Pervez was stopped at 5-5 because Alabama had already won the doubles point.
Alabama did not let up after doubles and came out to win three singles matches for the 4-0 victory. Baum gave the Crimson Tide a 2-0 lead with a 6-0, 6-0 win at number six singles over Ohio State’s Claudia Castro. At number three singles, Bama’s Begovic won 6-1, 6-1 over OSU’s Pervez to give Alabama a 3-0 lead. Alabama’s Cremers then clinched the victory for the Crimson Tide with a 6-4, 6-4 win over Ohio State’s Matko at number four singles.
“We came out of the gates fast,” UA head coach Jenny Mainz said. “We knew the doubles point would be critical and it was. (Ohio State) is a good team. I am very proud of the team. It was a great win.”
Alabama will now take on the winner of the match-up between 14th ranked Tennessee and 74th ranked Marshall. Bama will take on the winner of that match on Saturday at 4 p.m. EST in Knoxville. The winner of Saturday’s match will advance to Palo Alto, California, for the Sweet Sixteen.
No. 44 Alabama- 4 No. 37 Ohio State- 0
Doubles
1. No. 56 Begovic/Chang(UA) def. No. 54 Rincon/Colville(OSU) 8-4
2. Mathew/Ketchum(UA) vs. Fisk/Pervez(OSU) 5-5 DNF
3. Baum/Leung(UA) def. Matko/Williams(OSU) 8-6
Singles
1. Selia Mathew(UA) vs. No. 68 Monica Rincon(OSU) 5-7, 6-2, 1-2 DNF
2. Jenny Ketchum(UA) vs. No. 96 Erica Fisk(OSU) 6-1, 3-6, 0-1 DNF
3. Millie Begovic(UA) def. Sadhaf Pervez(OSU) 6-1, 6-1
4. Sophie Cremers(UA) def. Michelle Matko(OSU) 6-4, 6-4
5. Weyli Chang(UA) vs. Lindsay Williams(OSU) 7-5, 3-4 DNF
6. Becca Baum(UA) def. Claudia Castro 6-0, 6-0
