Bama Rallies Back to Victory Over Furman
2/9/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
TUSCALOOSA, Ala.-The no. 50 Alabama women's tennis team outlasted No. 69 Furman, 4-3, in a grueling four hour match today at the Hank Crisp Indoor Facility.
"Tonight was a total team effort," stated head coach Jenny Mainz. "All eight of the girls contributed to the win. We got off to a slow start in doubles, but we regrouped and went out and won the match. Furman competed hard and they are a solid team and I want to acknowledge that but they didn't capitalize on a few opportunities. I think our preseason schedule helped us tonight and we are definitely getting better every match."
The Alabama roster showed two new doubles combinations and a new singles line up to face Furman. The Tide got off to a slow start, earning only one win in its first four matches, but rallied back in the end, winning the final three contests.
Sophomore Shelley Godwin picked up her third consecutive win at the No. 2 slot, defeating Furman's Lauren Osborne in straight sets, 6-2, 6-3.
Freshmen Nicole Briceno and Alice Tunaru also earned wins for the Tide in the singles lineup. Briceno defeated Natasa Manojlovic in three sets, 6-4, 3-6, 7-5, after trailing in the third set to clinch the win, while Tunaru cruised to a two-set victory against Lauren Tomory.
Tide freshman Bianca Svensson, playing in her first singles contest of the dual match season, cruised to a 6-4, 6-0 victory against Wanjiku Ngaruiya, clinching the match for Alabama.
Tide senior Mari Muller fell to Laura Gioia, 6-0, 6-2, at the No.1 slot, while Sofia Ayala fell to Furman's Bonnie Baird in a tie breaker, 6-1, 7-6 (4).
Doubles partners Godwin and Svensson jumped out to an early lead over Furman's Lisa Bornt-Davis and Bonnie Baird, cruising to an 8-0 victory and earning the Tide's first win of the match.
Alabama's Andrea Brenes and Ayala fell to Lauren Osborne and Lauren Tomory, 8-3 while Furman's Laura Gioia and Natasa Manojlovic defeated Muller and Briceno, 8-3.
Alabama will return to action Sunday, Feb. 11 at 11:00 a.m. at the Hank Crisp Indoor Facility. Live stats will be made available through www.rolltide.com.
--UA--
Results
Singles:
1. Laura Gioia (Fur) def. Mari Muller (UA) 6-0, 6-2
2. Shelley Godwin (UA) def. Lauren Osborne (Fur) 6-2, 6-3
3. Bonnie Baird (Fur) def. Sofia Ayala (UA) 6-1, 7-6 (4)
4. Nicole Briceno (UA) def. Natasa Manojlovic (Fur) 6-4, 3-6, 7-5
5. Alice Tunaru (UA) def. Lauren Tomory (Fur) 6-2, 6-4
6. Bianca Svensson (UA) def. Wanjiku Ngaruiya (Fur) 6-4, 6-0
Order of finish: 1,2,3,4,5,6
Doubles:
1. Laura Gioia/Natasa Manojlovic (Fur) def. Mari Muller/Nicole Briceno (UA) 8-3
2. Lauren Osborne/Lauren Tomory (Fur) def. Andrea Brenes/Sofia Ayala (UA) 8-3
3. Shelley Godwin/Bianca Svensson (UA) def. Lisa Bornt-Davis/Bonnie Baird (Fur) 8-0
Order of finish: 3,2,1
