Alabama Falls to Auburn in Last Home Match of Season
4/14/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
TUSCALOOSA, Ala.-The No. 72 University of Alabama women's tennis team fell, 4-3, to Auburn today in a match that lasted a little over five hours.
Senior Mari Muller earned a doubles win with partner Andrea Brenes in the last home match of her career.
"It was sad and hard to play at home for the last time but I really felt like the fought hard today even though we did not come up with a win," said Alabama senior Mari Muller. "Getting a doubles win felt great and I am glad I ended my career here with that win. We have been improving all year and I thought we played our best match of the season today."
"I am proud of our team and our effort today," said Alabama head coach Jenny Mainz. "Mari Muller led the way in doubles and we played great. We came out ready to compete against a good Auburn squad."
Alabama came out strong in doubles on all three courts and took all three matches for the first time against an SEC foe. The Tide's No. 1 tandem of Mari Muller and Andrea Brenes set the pace for the rest of the team, defeating Auburn's Alex Haney and Fani Chifchieva, 8-5, to earn the first victory.
On court three, Nicole Briceno and Paulina Bigos clinched the point for Alabama by defeating Kelly Adams and Whitney Chappell, 8-6. Alabama's No. 2 pair of Shelley Godwin and Bianca Svensson came from behind to defeat Melissa Koning and Jil Hastenrath, 9-7, to complete the doubles sweep.
After being down 1-0, Auburn retaliated in the top of the singles lineup to clinch the match. Alabama fell on courts 1, 2 and 3 before Auburn's Chappell outlasted Svensson on court 4 to clinch the match. Svensson trailed after the first set but came back to win the second set to send the match into a third and deciding set. Chappell took an early lead and eventually won the set, clinching the match.
Alabama continued to fight at the bottom of the lineup with Bigos earning a victory at the No. 5 slot. Bigos defeated Auburn's Hastenrath in a three set tie-breaker, 6-4, 4-6, 10-7. Alabama's Brenes earned the final victory of the match, defeating Auburn's Adams in a super tie-breaker, 6-2, 6-7, 11-9.
"I am really pleased with our improvement and our performance today," said Mainz.
Alabama will take next week to get ready for the conference tournament in Lexington, Ky. The tournament officially starts Wednesday with a banquet honoring the athletes.
-UA-
No. 72 Alabama 3, No. 37 Auburn 4
Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Hank Crisp Indoor Facility
Time: 5 hrs. 15 min.
Singles Competiton:
1. No. 27 Fani Chifchieva (AU) def. Mari Muller (UA) 6-1, 6-2
2. Alex Haney (AU) def. Nicole Briceno (UA) 6-1, 6-1
3. Melissa Koning (AU) def. Shelley Godwin (UA) 6-3, 6-1
4. Jil Hastenrath (AU) def. Bianca Svensson (UA) 7-6, 4-6, 6-1, 10-7
5. Paulina Bigos (UA) def. Jil Hastenrath (AU) 6-4, 4-6
6. Andrea Brenes (UA) def. Kelly Adams (AU) 6-2, 6-7, 11-9
Doubles Competition:
1. Mari Muller/Andrea Brenes (UA) def. Fani Chifchieva/Alex Haney (AU) 8-5
2. Shelley Godwin/Bianca Svensson (UA) def. Melissa Koning/Jil Hastenrath (AU) 9-7
3. Paulina Bigos/Nicole Briceno (UA) def. Kelly Adams/Whitney Chappell (AU) 8-6
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3*,2); Singles ( 2,1,3,4*,5,6)
