Women?s Tennis Drops another Close Decision
1/29/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
Sunday, January 29, 2006
BOULDER, Colo. ?? For the second time this weekend the Alabama women’s tennis team dropped a 4-3 decision on the road, this time to the Colorado Buffaloes (3-1).
The Crimson Tide (0-2) gained a 1-0 advantage following doubles play, but couldn’t hold on to the lead as Colorado stormed back to win four singles matches to earn the victory.
“This one is tough,” Alabama head coach Jenny Mainz said. “I think it shows that we have a lot of work to do to get to where we want to be.”
Alabama was forced to play the singles portion of the match without one of its leaders, senior Ashley Bentley. Bentley, who normally plays at the No. 2 singles position, withdrew from the match prior to the start of singles. That resulted in the rest of Alabama’s players playing in positions two through six to play a spot higher in the line-up. It was an obstacle that Alabama wasn’t able to overcome Sunday.
Mainz’ team jumped out to a quick start Sunday, something it struggled to do in Friday’s opener with Denver. Alabama swept the doubles matches, winning at the No. 2 and No. 3 positions. Bentley and Robin Stephenson did not complete their match at No. 1 doubles.
Mari Muller and Andrea Brenes picked up their first win of the dual-match season at No. 2 doubles with an 8-4 win over Ewa Losinski and Veera Nurmi. The Tide’s two freshmen, Sofia Ayala and Shelley Godwin claimed the win at No. 3, 8-5.
After winning the doubles point, Alabama needed to win just three of the six singles matches to claim the match. However, outside of victories at No. 1 by No. 13-ranked Stephenson and at No. 5 by Brenes, no other Tide player was able to win a set.
Stephenson picked up a big win at No. 1 singles over No. 39-ranked Jessica Vanderdys in straight sets. The win also upped Stephenson’s record to 11-4. Brenes’ win over Martina Sedivec puts her at the 10-win mark already this season.
Alabama will take next week off of competition but will spend it getting ready to battle an always tough Northwestern team on February 11 in Evanston, Ill.
Tennis Match Results
No. 55 Colorado 4, No. 37 Alabama 3
CU (3-1), Alabama (0-2)
Jan. 29, Harvest House Millennium Hotel
Boulder, Colo.
1d) Bentley/Stephenson (Ala) vs. Milewski/Vanderdys (CU) ?? did not finish
2d) Muller/Brenes (Ala) def. Losinski/Nurmi 8-4
3d) Ayala/Godwin (Ala) def. Jendrian/Sedivec 8-5
1s) (13) Robin Stephenson (Ala) def. (39) Jessica Vanderdys 6-3, 6-3
2s) (56) Monica Milewski (CU) def. Melissa Day 6-2, 6-2
3s) Ewa Losinski (CU) def. Mari Muller 7-5, 7-6(3)
4s) (84) Veera Nurmi (CU) def. Shelley Godwin 6-0, 6-4
5s) Andrea Brenes (Ala) def. Martina Sedivec 2-6, 6-3, 6-4
6s) Franziska Jendrian (CU) def. Sofia Ayala (Ala) 6-1, 7-6(4)
singles order of finish: 4, 1, 2, 3, 5, 6
