Alabama
TCU
Lindsey Clinches Win Over No. 21 TCU
2/28/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
Feb. 28, 2009
FORT WORTH, Texas - The women's tennis team put forth a solid effort Saturday to defeat No. 21 TCU 4-3 at the Bayard H. Friedman Tennis Center. The Crimson Tide, which is currently ranked No. 63, improves to 8-0 overall, while the Horned Frogs drop to 4-5 on the season. Freshman Taylor Lindsey secured the match for Alabama for her third clincher thus far.
"What a great match," said head coach Jenny Mainz. "We always talk about taking care of your court, and we had some people step up big for us today. This was interesting to see how we responded after losing the doubles point. It was a good test for this team. In singles they came out focused, hungry and ready. They knew they had to take care of it. This is a testament to our hard work and commitment. This team is dedicated to staying focused and raising the bar every week. I commend them for their effort."
For just the first time during this dual-match season Alabama dropped the doubles point losing at all three positions. First to finish was the No. 2 pairing where Tide junior Paulina Bigos and Lindsey fell to TCU freshman Kayla Duncan and sophomore Katariina Tuohimaa 8-3. The doubles point was secured at the No. 1 position where the No. 13 duo of seniors Macall Harkins and Anna Sydorska defeated No. 38 sophomore Tiffany Welcher and freshman Courtney McLane 8-5. Wrapping things up in doubles in the No. 3 matchup was the Tide pair of senior Shelley Godwin and sophomore Meritt Emery who fell to Horned Frog sophomore Maria Babanova and freshman Gaby Mastromarino 8-6.
TCU jumped out to a 2-0 lead picking up the first point in singles as Mastromarino earned a 6-2, 6-2 win over Emery at the No. 4 position. Shortly after, Alabama tied it up at 2-2 with wins at No. 5 and No. 1. Godwin, who is currently on a seven-match win streak, downed the Horned Frogs' Sydorska winning 6-2, 6-3, followed by Welcher who dominated No. 85 Harkins 6-2, 6-2.
"Tiffany worked for it and really hustled today," said Mainz. "She made it so difficult for Macall to earn points. We've continually told Tiffany her chance is right around the corner and to hang in there. She's got to believe in herself. We kept telling her it would eventually pay off, and that's what happened today. She buckled down and went to work. This was a great win for Tiffany."
McLane put the Tide on top as she took care of business at the No. 2 position with a 6-4, 6-4 win over Tuohimaa. After dropping her first set 6-4, Bigos looked like she was going to win the second and force a decisive third, but Duncan came back to win the final three games and the set 6-4. With the team score tied 3-3, all eyes would focus on the No. 6 pairing of Lindsey and TCU sophomore Idunn Hertzberg. Lindsey, all too familiar with this position, had already played in, and won, two deciding matches this season. She continued to come through in the clutch as she beat Hertzberg 6-4, 6-4 to keep the Tide undefeated in 2009.
"Taylor is getting used to that position," Mainz said. "The more she is in it, the more familiar she becomes with it and the better she is able to respond to the situation."
Next up, Alabama opens SEC play as it hosts Arkansas and LSU on Friday, March 6 and Sunday, March 8, respectively. Friday's contest will begin at 3:00 p.m. (CST), while Sunday's opening tip is slated for 1:00 p.m. (CST). Action takes place at the University of Alabama Tennis Stadium. Admission is free.
RESULTS
Doubles
1. No. 13 Harkins/Sydorska (TCU) def. McLane/Welcher (UA) 8-5
2. Duncan/Tuohimaa (TCU) def. Bigos/Lindsey 8-3
3. Babanova/Mastromarino def. Emery/Godwin 8-6
Order of Finish: 2,1,3
Singles
1. Tiffany Welcher (UA) def. No. 85 Macall Harkins (TCU) 6-2, 6-2
2. Courtney McLane (UA) def. Katariina Tuohimaa (TCU) 6-4, 6-4
3. Kayla Duncan (TCU) def. Paulina Bigos (UA) 6-4, 6-4
4. Gaby Mastromarino (TCU) def. Meritt Emery (UA) 6-2, 6-2
5. Shelley Godwin (UA) def. Anna Sydorska (TCU) 6-2, 6-3
6. Taylor Lindsey (UA) def. Idunn Hertzberg (TCU) 6-4, 6-4
Order of Finish: 4,5,1,2,3,6*
Players Mentioned
