Tide Women's Tennis Drops First Round Match to Jackets
5/14/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
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ATHENS, GA—The Alabama women’s tennis team couldn’t overcome an early Georgia Tech lead and lost to the Yellow Jackets 4-0 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
No. 40 Georgia Tech (12-10) gained the early momentum by taking the doubles point and a 1-0 advantage. The teams split at No. 1 and 2 doubles and the point was decided with a 9-7 Tech win at No. 3.
“I felt like the doubles point was pivotal,” said Alabama Head Coach Jenny Mainz. “We needed to earn that doubles point because it set the tone for the match and Georgia Tech gained the momentum.”
Georgia Tech took the momentum into singles and got three straight set wins at No. 3, 4 and 5 singles. Tide sophomores Robin Stephenson and Ashley Bentley were one game away from winning at No. 1 and 2 singles, respectively, and freshman Sonja Nikolic was up 4-1 in the second set when the match was clinched and suspended.
“I don’t think Georgia Tech is the No. 40 team in the country,” Mainz said. “I think they are a top 25 team without question. I knew it would be a battle and a grind and I give a lot of credit to Georgia Tech. I felt like we competed well, but just ran out of time.”
Alabama finishes up the season at 13-11 and was ranked as high as No. 22 in the country with a team of five sophomores, two freshmen and one senior.
Stephenson and Bentley will compete in the NCAA Individual Championships beginning on May 24. The pair is an at-large selection in the doubles tournament and Stephenson is an at-large in the singles tournament. Bentley is an alternate in the singles tournament and the draw is set for May 23.
Complete Match Results:
Georgia Tech 4, Alabama 0
Doubles:
1. #21 Stephenson/Bentley (UA) d. Anderson/Grant (GT), 8-4
2. Nieto/Stauss (GT) d. Minor/Koppelle (UA), 8-6
3. Kacie Anson/Silverio (GT) d. Muller/Nikolic (UA), 9-7
Order of Finish: 1, 2, 3
Singles:
1. #28 Robin Stephenson (UA) led #67 Lyndsay Shosho (GT), 6-2, 5-2 susp.
2. #69 Ashley Bentley (UA) led #87 Kelly Anderson (GT), 6-4, 5-4 susp.
3. Lindsey Stauss (GT) d. Nathalie Koppelle (UA), 6-2, 6-3
4. Alison Silverio (GT) d. Melissa Minor (UA), 6-4, 6-3*
5. Sekita Grant (GT) d. Mari Muller (UA), 6-2, 6-0
6. Maria Nieto (GT) vs. Sonja Nikolic (UA), 6-2, 1-4 susp.
*Clinched Match
Order of Finish: 5, 3, 4
PHOTO GALLERY
The teams line up for the national anthem
Ashley Bentley
Mari Muller
Melissa Minor
Nathalie Koppelle
Robin Stephenson
Sonja Nikolic
