Alabama Women's Tennis Pulls Upset On Tennessee

Sunday, March 06, 2005

Natalie McElveen

The University of Alabama women’s tennis team fought off No. 19 Tennessee Sunday afternoon for a dramatic 4-3 upset victory at the UA Tennis Complex.

“This was unbelievable,” head coach Jenny Mainz said. “This was beyond tennis today.”

After five and half hours of play, the match came down to a must win, third-set tie tiebreaker between Alabama’s Natalie McElveen and Tennessee’s Melissa Schaub at No. 6 singles. McElveen fell behind 6-5 in the third set, but fought back and won the tiebreaker 7-5 to clinch the match for the Tide. It was McElveen’s first career match-clinching victory in the SEC.

“I’m so proud of McElveen today and this entire team,” Mainz said. “I can’t say enough about how this team fought and persevered to win this match.”

Prior to McElveen’s clinching victory, Mari Muller came through for Alabama (5-5, 1-1 SEC) to keep the thoughts of upset alive. Muller lost the first set 7-5 to Tennessee’s Ashley Robards, then clawed back to win a second-set tiebreaker. Muller then had to overcome a 3-2 third-set deficit to claim victory.

Alabama jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the match after winning the doubles point, but it wasn’t easy. Robin Stephenson and McElveen clinched the doubles point in a match that lasted nearly two hours. The duo eventually won 9-8(9-7) to give the Tide the 1-0 lead. Ashley Bentley and Melissa Minor also won their doubles match. Alabama is 5-0 this season when it wins the doubles point.

With a 1-0 lead, Alabama also out to a good start in singles led by Bentley, who continued her hot streak. She has now won 10 consecutive matches and hasn’t lost since November.

Tennessee stormed back however, behind an uplifting win at No. 1 singles by Sabita Maharaj. Maharaj upset No. 6 Stephenson in three sets to put Tennessee ahead for the first time. It was the final match Tennessee won on the day.

Alabama will be back in action this weekend with a pair of matches in the Mississippi. Alabama will play Ole Miss Friday afternoon at 4 p.m. in Oxford, Miss. and Mississippi State in Starkville, Miss. on Sunday at 1 p.m.

Tennis Match Results
Tennessee vs Alabama
Mar 06, 2005 at Tuscaloosa, Ala.

#36 Alabama 4, #19 Tennessee 3

Singles competition:

1. #70 Sabita Maharaj (TENN) def. #6 Robin Stephenson (BAMA) 0-6, 6-4, 7-5
2. #83 Ashley Bentley (BAMA) def. Blakeley Griffith (TENN) 6-1, 7-5
3. Bryce Marable (TENN) def. Melissa Minor (BAMA) 6-4, 6-3
4. Victoria Jones (TENN) def. Anrdea Brenes (BAMA) 6-2, 7-5
5. Mari Muller (BAMA) def. Ashley Robards (TENN) 5-7, 7-6 (7-4), 6-4
6. Natalie McElveen (BAMA) def. Melissa Schaub (TENN) 6-4, 5-7, 7-6 (7-5)

Doubles competition:

1. Robin Stephenson/Natalie McElveen (BAMA) def. Melissa Schaub/Sabatini Maharaj (TENN) 9-8 (9-7)
2. Ashley Bentley/Melissa Minor (BAMA) def. Bryce Marable/Blakeley Griffith (TENN) 8-2
3. Ghizela Schutte/Ashley Robards (TENN) def. Mari Muller/Anrdea Brenes (BAMA) 8-6

Match Notes:
Order of finish: Doubles (2,3,1); Singles (2,3,4,1,5,6)
      

PHOTO GALLERY

Match Tennessee 01
Ashley Bentley
(Photo by Jeff Hanson)