Alabama Women?s Tennis Falls to Tennessee at Home
3/23/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
TUSCALOOSA, Ala.- The University of Tennessee was too much for Alabama today as they defeated the Tide 7-0 at the UA Varsity Courts.
"I thought losing the doubles point made a difference in our confidence and ability, said Alabama head coach Jenny Mainz. "The doubles point was the difference-maker in the match."
Tennessee outlasted Alabama in doubles, taking Nos. 1 and 2. The No. 1 tandem of Blakeley Griffith and Samantha Orlin defeated Alabama's Mari Muller and Andrea Brenes in a tie-breaker 9-8 (3) to secure the point for the Vols.
The freshman duo of Nicole Briceno and Paulina Bigos defeated their opponent at the No. 3 position, giving the Tide its only doubles win.
In singles, Tennessee earned three quick wins at Nos. 3, 1 and 5 to give the Vols a 4-0 lead and the match. No. 31 Blakeley Griffith secured the win for the Vols at the No. 1 slot with a win over Alabama's Muller, 6-4, 6-3.
Alabama continued to fight at Nos. 1, 2 and 6 but could not hold on as Tennessee secured three more wins and the sweep.
"We came out and fought hard in singles but, in this conference, you can't dig that big of a hole and try and fight your way out of it. We need to engage in matches from the very first point. We had every opportunity but we could not convert. Now we have to focus on Sunday."
The Crimson Tide travels to Athens, Georgia on Sunday to face the top-ranked Bulldogs at 1:00 p.m. (ET).
-UA-
No 61 Alabama 0, No. 31 Tennessee 7
Tuscaloosa, Ala.
UA Varsity Courts
Time: 3hrs. and 50 min.
Results:
Singles Competition
1. No. 31 Blakeley Griffith def. Mari Muller (UA) 6-4, 6-3
2. Connor Vogel (UA) def. Nicole Briceno (UA) 6-0, 0-6, 7-6 (2)
3. Caitlin Whorskey (UT) def. Shelley Godwin (UA) 6-1, 6-2
4. Samantha Orlin (UT) def. Alice Tunaru (UA) 6-3, 3-6, 6-0
5. Victoria Jones (UT) def. Andrea Brenes (UA) 6-3, 6-2
6. Zsofia Zubor (UT) def. Bianca Svensson (UA) 6-4, 7-5
Doubles Competition
1. Blakeley Griffith/Samantha Orlin (UT) def. Mari Muller/Andrea Brenes (UA) 8-7 (3)
2. Caitlin Whorskey/Zsofia Zubor (UT) def. Shelley Godwin/Bianca Svensson (UA) 8-1
3. Nicole Briceno/Paulina Bigos (UA) def. Caitlin Vogel/Victoria Jones (UT) 8-5
Order of finish: Doubles (2,3,1*); Singles (3,1,5*,4,2,6)
