Tide's Stephenson Advances to NCAA Round of 32
5/24/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
Stephenson defeats Walter, 2-6, 7-6 (5), 7-6 (7)
Monday, May 24, 2004 |
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A first round exit loomed for Robin Stephenson in the NCAA Women's Tennis Singles Championships Monday, but a fierce comeback vaulted the Kitchener, Ontario sophomore into the second round and a rematch with SEC Player of the Year and second-ranked Alexis Gordon of Florida.
Stephenson lost the first set to Baylor freshman Carolin Walter 6-2 and was down 4-1 in the second set before winning 7-6 (5). Stephenson was trailing again in the third set 4-2 and faced match-point in the tiebreaker down 6-5 until she rallied to win the breaker, 9-7. Stephenson becomes the third player in Alabama women's tennis history to win an NCAA Singles Tournament match and the first since Baili Camino reached the Sweet 16 in 1997.
"Robin didn't get off to a good start," said Alabama Head Coach Jenny Mainz. "She struggled at the beginning and couldn't really find a rhythm. But I was impressed with her fight and tenacity to come back and win."
Stephenson, 23-12 on the year, will face Gordon at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday. Gordon, the No. 5 seed in the tournament, struggled in her first round match but defeated Cal's No. 45 Sasha Podkolzina on Monday, 6-7 (6), 6-4, 6-2.
Stephenson and Gordon squared off on March 21 in Tuscaloosa when Florida defeated the Tide, 5-2. Gordon was unbeaten and ranked No. 2 in the country when she lost 6-4, 7-6 (11) to the No. 28 Stephenson, who was then ranked 50th. Gordon is 24-5 on the season and has not lost to the same opponent twice this spring.
The winner of the Gordon/Stephenson match will face the winner of the Audra Falk/Theresa Logar match, scheduled for 11 a.m., in the Sweet 16.
Also on Monday afternoon, the draw for the doubles tournament was announced. Stephenson and Bentley, ranked 21st in the country, will face UCLA's top team of Daniela Bercek and Lauren Fisher, ranked No. 23.
Bercek and Fisher are 9-5 on the season and Fisher is also ranked No. 22 with Bruin Jackie Carleton. The doubles match is set for 11:30 a.m.
