Alabama Women's Tennis Tops West Virginia, 6-1
2/20/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
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The 30th ranked University of Alabama women's tennis team defeated the West Virginia Mountaineers 6-1 on Thursday in Tuscaloosa.
Alabama moved to 7-1 on the season with the victory. The Crimson Tide won the doubles point by winning two doubles matches. At number three doubles, Alabama's Stefanie Leung and Marie-France Lord-Andrade won 8-4 over West Virginia's Courtney Howell and Catherine Koontz. UA's Millie Begovic and Nathalie Koppelle defeated WVU's Melissa Day and Raynie Theis at number one doubles 8-5. After Alabama had clinched the doubles point, number two doubles play was stopped with West Virginia's Anna Marie Underwood and Jennifer Watkins leading Alabama's Sophie Cremers and Natalie McElveen 6-5.
"We struggled at first with doubles," UA head coach Jenny Mainz said. "Part of that was we were trying new doubles combinations."
UA's McElveen defaulted due to injury to WVU's Watkins at number five singles in the first set to even up the match at 1-1. The Mountaineers' Day was then forced to default with an injury at number one singles to the Tide's Cremers putting Alabama up 2-1. Lord-Andrade put Bama up 3-1 with her 6-0, 6-3 victory at number two singles over West Virginia's Howell.
Alabama's Melissa Minor clinched the match at number six singles with a 6-2, 6-0 win over West Virginia's Theis. UA's Ashley Bentley defeated WVU's Underwood 6-2, 6-3 at number three singles. Koppelle then won a ten-point tie-breaker to defeat West Virginia's Koontz 6-1, 5-7, 10-6 at number four singles.
"It was a good day," Mainz said. "This match will help us get ready for Sunday against Florida State."
Alabama will take on Florida State on Sunday in Tallahassee, Florida, at noon. The Crimson Tide will then open up SEC play at home against LSU on February 28th at 3:00 p.m.
Results
No. 30 Alabama- 6 West Virginia- 1
Doubles
1. Millie Begovic/Koppelle (UA) def. Day/Theis (WVU) 8-5
2. Underwood/Watkins (WVU) vs. Cremers/McElveen (UA) 6-5 dnf
3. Stefanie Leung/Lord-Andrade (UA) def. Howell/Koontz (WVU) 8-4
Singles
1. Sophie Cremers (UA) def. Melissa Day (WVU) 4-2 default
2. Marie-France Lord-Andrade (UA) def. Courtney Howell (WVU) 6-0, 6-3
3. Ashley Bentley (UA) def. Anna Marie Underwood (WVU) 6-2, 6-3
4. Nathalie Koppelle (UA) def. Catherine Koontz (WVU) 6-1, 5-7, 10-6
5. Jennifer Watkins (WVU) def. Natalie McElveen (UA) 5-2 default
6. Melissa Minor (UA) def. Raynie Theis (WVU) 6-2, 6-0*
* clinched match
