Alabama
Oklahoma
Women's Tennis Sinks Sooners 4-2
2/7/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
Feb. 7, 2009
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The women's tennis team (4-0) defeated Oklahoma (2-1) by a score of 4-2 at the University of Alabama Tennis Stadium. The win keeps the Crimson Tide undefeated on the season. Freshman Taylor Lindsey once again came through with the clinching win at the No. 6 singles spot, and it took yet another three set victory to do so.
"This was a big win for us," head coach Jenny Mainz said. "Oklahoma is a solid, well-coached team. I was impressed with how they competed and found a way to get back in matches when they were down."
Alabama got off to a fast start by winning the doubles point. The Tide has won the doubles point in all four matches this season. Sophomore Tiffany Welcher and freshman Courtney McLane picked up the first doubles win for Alabama, defeating the Sooner sophomore pair of Ana-Maria Constantinescu and Tara Eckel 8-4 at the No. 1 spot. Moments later, the doubles point was clinched for the Tide when junior Paulina Bigos and freshman Taylor Lindsey took down sophomore Maria Kalashnikova and freshman Marie-Pier Huet 8-4 at the No. 2 position. The pair of Peta Maree Lancaster and Kristina Radan of Oklahoma had the lead over sophomore Meritt Emery and junior Alice Tunaru of Alabama at the No. 3 spot 6-4, but the match was called with the doubles point already clinched.
It appeared the Tide would run away with the match, as two Alabama players made quick work of their singles matches. First off the court was Emery, who defeated Eckel handily 6-1, 6-1 at the No. 4 position. McLane did not have much trouble closing her match out at the No. 2 spot either, taking down Radan 6-3, 6-0. Oklahoma notched its first point of the dual match with a win from Constantinescu at the No. 1 position. It was a battle of two top 100 players, with the Oklahoma sophomore, currently ranked No. 98 nationally, recording a straight sets win over fellow sophomore Welcher 7-5, 6-3.
The Tide was still in full control of the match, with all three Alabama players still on court up a set. That's when things began to get much tighter. Bigos dropped the second set 6-3, and Kalashnikova used the momentum to coast to an easy third set victory, taking the win at the No. 3 spot 2-6, 6-3, 6-1. Lindsey, fresh off her clinching victory against Georgia State, once again was in the position to be the hero. Lindsey won the first set 6-4 over Huet, and held serve at 5-6 to force a second set tiebreaker. Lindsey got up an early mini break in the tiebreaker, but Huet would fight back to win the tiebreaker 7-4, forcing a third and decisive set. Just minutes after Lindsey was forced to a third set, Alabama senior Shelley Godwin had a chance to close out her match in straight sets and clinch the win for the Tide. However, she failed to capitalize on two match points on Lancaster's serve at 5-4 in the second set. Lancaster forced a tiebreaker, and eventually won the tiebreaker 7-4. Meanwhile, Lindsey composed herself, jumping out to a 3-0 lead in the final set. She split the next two games with Huet, making the score 4-1. Then the Alabama freshman picked her game up a level, closing out the match by winning the final two games, and once again clinching the win for the Tide. Godwin led 2-0 in the final set of her match when the match was called.
"Taylor did a good job staying composed after losing the second set," added Mainz. "She executed very well in the third set to finish. Taylor gained a lot of confidence with her win last week."
Next up, the Tide hosts the No. 61 Iowa Hawkeyes on Saturday, Feb. 14 at Noon (CST). The Hawkeyes will be the first ranked opponent Alabama has faced this season.
RESULTS
Doubles
1. Welcher/McLane (UA) def. Constantinescu/Eckel (OU) 8-4
2. Bigos/Lindsey (UA) def. Kalashnikova/Huet (OU) 8-4
3. Lancaster/Radan (OU) led Emery/Tunaru (UA) 6-4, DNF
Order of Finish: 1,2
Singles
1. Ana-Maria Constantinescu (OU) def. Tiffany Welcher (UA) 7-5, 6-3
2. Courtney McLane (UA) def. Kristina Radan (OU) 6-3, 6-0
3. Maria Kalashnikova (OU) def. Paulina Bigos (UA) 2-6, 6-3, 6-1
4. Meritt Emery (UA) def. Tara Eckel (OU) 6-1, 6-1
5. Shelley Godwin (UA) led Peta Maree Lancaster (OU) 7-6(2), 6-7(4), 2-0, DNF
6. Taylor Lindsey (UA) def. Marie-Pier Huet (OU) 6-4, 6-7(4), 6-1
Order of Finish: 4,2,1,3,6*
Players Mentioned
