Bama Women?s Tennis Defeats Oklahoma
2/24/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
TUSCALOOSA, Ala.- The No. 60 Alabama women's tennis team outlasts Oklahoma, 4-3 on a windy day at the UA Varsity courts.
Alabama presented two new lineups against the Sooners due to an injury suffered by sophomore Sofia Ayala last weekend.
"This was a big win for our team today that was a total team effort, said head coach Jenny Mainz. "The fact that we are playing and competing for every point is a real moral victory for the team. The win signifies mental toughness, that we are handling pressure situations very well. The conditions were tough for both teams and we worked through the difficulties and got a big win heading into the SEC season."
After the first two doubles matches the score was tied at one win a piece, coming down to the final match on court one. Both teams led during the hour long match, with Alabama finally pulling away and securing the doubles point for the team.
Shelley Godwin and Bianca Svensson picked up the Tide's first victory of the day, cruising by Rachael Cox and Chelsea Orr, 8-4. With the win, the pair obtained their seventh consecutive win and are 5-0 against dual match opponents.
Mari Muller and Andrea Brenes clinched the point for the Tide with a 9-8 (5) victory over Monica Purice and Christie Baxley. This is the first doubles win for the pair this season.
Freshmen Nicole Briceno and Paulina Bigos fell to Irina Lykina and Gabby Baker, 8-2, at the No. 2 spot.
Alabama led Oklahoma 1-0 heading into singles. Muller picked up a win at the No. 1 slot, giving the Tide a 2-0 lead, but back-to-back Oklahoma wins tied the score at two points a piece. Svensson beat her opponent in three sets, giving the Tide a 3-2 lead heading into the final two matches. Oklahoma rallied back to tie the match, before Alabama's Briceno out lasted her opponent to claim a three set victory and clinch the match for the Tide.
The Tide's Muller picked up her first singles win of the dual match season, defeating Purice, 6-2, 6-4, at the No. 1 slot.
"A lot of time you have to believe you are going to have a breakthrough," said Mainz. "You have to keep trusting yourself, believing in yourself, believing in your team and in the system. I think today was a breakthrough for Mari."
"It's been tough for me lately but I told myself to keep working hard because it would pay off," said Muller. "This is why I play tennis because you have to work hard everyday to stay ahead and when it pays off you feel good."
Svensson played in just her second singles contest of the dual match season, defeating Cox in three sets, 6-0, 3-6, 6-3.
Briceno clinched the match at the No. 3 slot, defeating Oklahoma's Irina Lykina 6-7, 7-6, 6-4. With the win, Briceno improves to a perfect 5-0 on the season and earned her first collegiate victory at the No. 3 spot.
Alabama's Godwin fell to Baker 6-1, 6-3 while Brenes lost to Orr, 7-5, 7-5. Alice Tunaru fell to Oklahoma's Christie Baxley in three sets, 5-7, 6-3, 2-6, playing at the No. 4 slot for the first time this season.
Alabama hosts Vanderbilt Friday, Mar. 2 at 4 p.m. and Kentucky Sunday, Mar. 4 at 1 p.m. at the UA Varsity courts to kick off the conference schedule.
-UA-
Results:
Doubles
1. Mari Muller/Andrea Brenes (UA) def. Monica Purice/Christie Baxley (OU) 9-8 (5)
2. Irina Lykina/Gabby Baker (OU) def. Nicole Briceno/Paulina Bigos (UA) 8-2
3. Shelley Godwin/Bianca Svensson (UA) def. Rachael Cox/Chelsea Orr (OU) 8-4
Order of finish: 2,3,1
Singles
1. Mari Muller (UA) def. Monica Purice (OU) 6-2, 6-4
2. Gabby Baker (OU) def. Shelley Godwin (UA) 6-1, 6-3
3. Nicole Briceno (UA) def. Irina Lykina (OU) 6-7, 7-6, 6-4
4. Christie Baxley (OU) def. Alice Tunaru (UA) 7-5, 3-6, 6-2
5. Chelsea Orr (OU) def. Andrea Brenes (UA) 7-5, 7-5
6. Bianca Svensson (UA) def. Rachael Cox (OU) 6-0, 3-6, 6-3
Order of finish: 1,2,5,6,4,3
