Alabama's Muller, Godwin Win Titles
9/26/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
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Tournament Results
Alabama women's tennis team wrapped-up its first competition of the season at the New Mexico Fall Invitational Sunday evening by winning two flight championships.
The Crimson Tide's Mari Muller won the flight B title by defeating teammate Shelley Godwin in the finals, 6-4, 6-2. Muller and Godwin then teamed up in doubles to win the flight B doubles title.
"It was a great tournament for us," head coach Jenny Mainz said. "Our biggest goal was to gain a lot of match experience and get back into the competitive fires. It was a great way to begin the season and I'm very pleased."
Muller played seven matches on the weekend between singles and doubles and finished a perfect 7-0. Godwin, just a freshman, advanced to the finals in her first collegiate tournament.
Friday night the Tide's Robin Stephenson and Ashley Bentley tied the school record for most wins as a doubles team. Saturday the duo set a new record with an 8-2 win in the semifinals over Jessica Vanderdys and Franziska Jendrian of Colorado before falling in the finals Sunday. Stephenson and Bentley now have 34 wins as a doubles team.
"This is a tremendous accomplishment," Mainz said. "They are a very dangerous team that's athletic and dynamic."
Next, Stephenson and Bentley will participate in the first collegiate Grand-Slam event of the season, the ITA/Riviera All-Americans. Play will begin on Tuesday, October 4.
Natalie McElveen and Andrea Brenes each had nice showings over the weekend as well. McElveen played in flight A for the first time during her collegiate career, advanced to the quarterfinals and posted a 2-2 record. Brenes had the best showing of her career with three wins on the weekend. Her only loss came to Muller in the semifinals of flight B.
"McElveen played really well in flight A and I think it was a positive step forward," Mainz said. "And Brenes was great. I'm really pleased with the way they played."
Alabama's next event will be the annual Roberta Alison Fall Classic at the UA Tennis Center October 7-9.
A Singles
A. Bentley (UA) d. O. Abou-Zekry (UNM), 3-6, 6-2, 6-1
I. Gersic (UNM) d. A. Bentley (UA), 6-3, 1-6, 7-6,
J. Vanderdys (Colo) d. A. Bentley (UA), 6-2, 6-4
M. Kovacek (UNM) d. N. McElveen (UA), 6-2, 6-2
N. McElveen (UA) d. F. Jendrian (Colo), 6-3, 6-3
B Singles
S. Godwin (UA) d. E. Bonner (UNM), 3-6, 6-0, 6-4
M. Muller (UA) d. A Brenes (UA), 3-6, 6-4, 6-2
M. Muller (UA) d. S. Godwin (UA), 6-4, 6-0
A. Brenes (UA) d. E. Bonner (UNM), 6-2, 6-4
A Doubles
Stephenson/Bentley (UA) d. Vanderdys/Jendrian (Colo), 8-2
Kovacek/Gersic (UNM) d. Stephenson/Bentley (UA), 8-3
Milewski/Sedivec (Colo) d. McElveen/Brenes (UA), 9-8
McElveen/Brenes (UA) d. Schmandt/Mills (NAU), 8-5
B Doubles
Muller/Godwin (UA) d. White/Quintal (UNM), 9-8
Muller/Godwin (UA) d. Nurmi/Quinn (Colo) 8-3
