Alabama Women?s Tennis Defeats Auburn, Wins SEC West
4/16/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
AUBURN, Ala. ?? With a come-from-behind win on the road over rival Auburn and some help from LSU, the Alabama women’s tennis team clinched its second Western Division crown in the last four years Saturday.
Despite a slow start that saw Alabama lose the doubles point and fall behind 1-0, the Tide stormed back to roll to a 6-1 win. The Tide picked up three three-set wins to en route to its third straight win over the Tigers, including Natalie McElveen’s match-clinching victory over Ashley Cowart at No. 4 singles, 2-6, 6-1, 6-1.
Following the match, Alabama received word that LSU upset Arkansas to give Alabama the division title.
“Things were not looking good early,” head coach Jenny Mainz said. “Auburn fought really hard and they competed well. I’m impressed with how they battled. We did not play well in doubles and didn’t take care of things but our experience pulled us through tonight. You look at the number of times this team has answered the call and today was one of them. We were a little sluggish and things we’re going our way early, but we had to trust our shots and believe that it will be there and it eventually came around.”
Alabama’s sluggish start in doubles carried over into singles and it looked as though ??Bama might be in trouble. McElveen, Ashley Bentley and Shelley Godwin all lost their opening sets. However, McElveen turned things around in the second set, winning 6-1 to force a third. Godwin won her second set 6-3 and Bentley forced a third set with a 6-4 win at No. 2. All three girls then pulled out wins.
“I’m proud of this team because we have struggled to have everyone show up and play well on the same day,” Mainz said. “Today was no exception yet we found a way to pull it out. That’s why winning the West is so meaningful.”
Robin Stephenson helped get Alabama rolling in singles. En route to her 91st career win, she lost just one set to Alex Haney. Mari Muller was just as impressive at No. 3 as she defeated Irina Pljusznyin in straight set, 6-1, 6-2 and freshman Sofia Ayala dominated Erin Gray down the stretch in a 7-5, 6-0 win.
Alabama will begin play at the SEC Tournament Thursday and will draw the No. 11-seed Mississippi State in the opening round. Alabama defeated MSU 5-2 on March 12.
Alabama 6, Auburn 1
April 15, 2006
Auburn, Ala.
Singles
1. No. 14 Robin Stephenson (UA) def. Alex Haney (AU) 6-1, 6-0
2. No. 79 Ashley Bentley (UA) def. Whitney Chappell (AU) 1-6, 6-4, 6-1
3. Mari Muller (UA) def. Irina Pljusznyin (AU) 6-1, 6-2
4. Natalie McElveen (UA) def. Ashley Cowart (AU) 2-6, 6-1, 6-2
5. Shelley Godwin (UA) def. Dzeljan Memisi (AU) 2-6, 6-3, 6-0
6. Sofia Ayala (UA) def. Erin Gray (AU) 7-5, 6-0
Order of finish: (1, 6, 3, 4, 5, 2)
Doubles
1. Robin Stephenson/Mari Muller (UA) def. Ashley Cowart/Alex Haney (AU)
8-1
2. Whitney Chappell/Irina Pljusznyin, AU def. Ashley Bentley/Natalie
McElveen (UA) 8-2
3. Dzeljan Memisi/Erin Gray, AU def. Sofia Ayala/Shelley Godwin (UA)
8-6
Order of finish: (2, 1, 3)
