Crimson Tide Women's Tennis Defeats Arkansas, 5-2
4/2/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
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The Alabama women’s tennis team took to the road today and defeated the No. 61 Arkansas Lady Razorbacks in Fayetteville, 5-2.
The 23rd-ranked Tide swept all three doubles matches and Robin Stephenson clinched the match at No. 1 singles with a 6-1, 6-1 victory over Arkansas senior Megan Ferreira. Stephenson had lost two straight matches, and Alabama head coach Jenny Mainz was pleased to see the 37th-ranked sophomore bounce back.
“It was encouraging,” Mainz said. “To see her play well is a really good thing for this team.”
Stephenson and fellow sophomore Ashley Bentley also won for the first time in three matches. The No. 35 doubles team defeated Ferreira and Anna Dybicz 8-0 at No. 1 doubles.
“It was good to get another SEC road win,” Mainz said. “It gives us the confidence and momentum to prepare for a tough LSU team on Sunday. Our goal was to play decisive tennis and we did that.”
Bentley, ranked No. 57 in singles, defeated Dybicz at No. 2 singles, 6-1, 6-0. The Arkansas senior was undefeated in singles play dating back to March 10. Bentley improved her dual match record to 15-2 and has won 14 of her last 15 matches.
The win was the 67th at Alabama for Mainz. She is now tied for second place all-time at the Capstone with former Tide coach Peter Heffernan.
Alabama will travel to Baton Rouge, La. to face the No. 25 LSU Lady Tigers on Sunday at 1 p.m. The Tide can clinch their second consecutive SEC Western Division title with a win.
Complete Match Results Follow:
No. 23 Alabama 5, No. 61 Arkansas 2
Doubles:
No. 35 Stephenson/Bentley (UA) d. Dybicz/Ferreira (UArk), 8-0
Begovic/Minor (UA) d. Morton/Cornett (UArk), 9-7
Koppelle/Muller (UA) d. Kincannon/Pacheco (UArk), 8-0
Order of Finish: 3, 1, 2
Singles:
No. 37 Robin Stephenson (UA) d. Megan Ferreira (UArk), 6-1, 6-1*
No. 57 Ashley Bentley (UA) d. Anna Dybicz (UArk), 6-1, 6-0
Iliana Pacheco (UArk) d. Millie Begovic (UA), 4-6, 6-1, 6-4
Melissa Cornett (UArk) d. Melissa Minor (UA), 6-3, 4-6, (11-9)
Mari Muller (UA) d. Whitney Morton (UArk), 6-2, 6-2
Sonja Nikolic (UA) d. Christian Kincannon (UArk), 6-1, 6-0
Order of Finish: 6, 2, 1, 5, 4, 3
*Clinched Match
