Bama Women's Tennis Gets First Road Win Over Houston
2/23/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
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The No. 32 (ITA) Alabama women’s tennis team won their first road match of the spring today in Houston, Texas with a 7-0 victory over the Houston Cougars (4-2).
Alabama (3-2) swept all three doubles matches with 8-6 victories and won five of six singles matches in straight sets. Sophomore Ashley Bentley got her third straight win at No. 3 singles with a 6-1, 6-1 win.
“Ashley has gained a lot of confidence,” said Alabama Head Coach Jenny Mainz. “She is playing very commanding tennis right now and is very consistent. She trusts her team and herself, and that is what makes her a playmaker.”
Bentley also got her third straight doubles victory with fellow sophomore Robin Stephenson at No. 1 doubles. Stephenson won at No. 1 singles, 6-4, 6-3.
“We didn’t play with urgency at all times,” Mainz said. “But we were solid when we needed to be and it was nice to have a decisive win for a change. I think this will really help our momentum going into tomorrow’s match against SMU.”
Senior Millie Begovic, who returned to the team with both singles and doubles victories last week against Florida State, got a 6-1, 6-2 win at No. 4 singles and an 8-6 victory at No. 3 doubles with freshman Mari Muller.
Mainz is now unbeaten against Houston and Cougar head coach Jennifer Hyde since coming to the Capstone. Mainz, a 1991 graduate of Houston, was a three-year captain for the Cougars and a two-time All-Southwest Conference selection in doubles. Hyde was the first assistant coach Mainz hired when she took over at Alabama in 1997.
The Tide will stay in Houston and play the SMU Mustangs on Saturday at Noon and the No. 62 Rice Owls on Sunday at 11 a.m.
Complete Match Results Follow:
No. 32 Alabama 7, Houston 0
Doubles:
1. Robin Stephenson/Ashley Bentley (UA) d. Miranda Foley/Biljana Dimovska (UH), 8-6
2. Nathalie Koppelle/Melissa Minor (UA) d. Karine Urbin/Diana Martin (UH), 8-6
3. Millie Begovic/Mari Muller (UA) d. Yolandi Terblanche/Kami Miller (UH), 8-6
Singles:
1. Stephenson (UA) d. Dimovska (UH), 6-4, 6-3
2. Koppelle (UA) d. Terblanche (UH), 6-3, 4-6, (10-8)
3. Bentley (UA) d. Foley (UH), 6-1, 6-1
4. Begovic (UA) d. Urbin (UH), 6-1, 6-2
5. Minor (UA) d. Martin (UH), 6-3, 6-1
6. Muller (UA) d. Miller (UH), 7-5, 6-4
