Women's Tennis Hosts Tulane on Sunday
3/20/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
March 20, 2010
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The women's tennis team will break from Southeastern Conference play when in welcomes No. 67 Tulane to the Alabama Tennis Stadium on Sunday at 1:00 p.m. (CST). The Crimson Tide enters the dual match at 6-7 overall, while the Green Wave stands at 8-6 on the season.
"We have a lot of tennis in front of us beginning with Tulane on Sunday," head coach Jenny Mainz said. "We have much to get done and much to prove still this season. I have been encouraged with the way we've been competing. We've had some tough battles in the SEC, and I still believe that our best tennis is in front of us."
Alabama dropped a pair of matches last week falling to South Carolina and Florida. On Friday, the Tide gave a hard-fought effort, but fell just short losing 4-3 to No. 20 South Carolina. Alabama found itself in an early hole following the doubles point, but came back to within one at 3-2 before junior Meritt Emery fell in three sets giving the Gamecocks the win. Despite the loss, freshman Alexa Guarachi extended her win streak to nine in singles appearing in the No. 1 spot for the first time in her career while taking down No. 72 Ana Marija Zubori 2-6, 7-5, 6-3.
On Sunday, the Tide suffered a 4-0 loss to No. 5 Florida, but gave the Gators a tough time in doubles. Florida took easy control at No. 2, however, the battle on court one came down to the wire. The sixth-ranked pair of senior Marrit Boonstra and freshman Allie Will came back in the end to take the match 9-7 giving the Gators the doubles point. Florida cruised in singles winning three consecutive matches for the 4-0 victory. The Gators had also won the first sets on the three remaining courts and had leads in the second frames.
Tulane has come up just short in its last two matches losing 4-3 at LSU and 4-3 against No. 35 Purdue. The Green Wave will take on Samford Saturday in Birmingham before traveling to Tuscaloosa on Sunday. Tulane is currently 2-4 in road matches this season and 3-2 against regional foes. The Green Wave is only in its second season back after the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
"Tulane has done an outstanding job of rebuilding its women's tennis program," Mainz added. "The progression is impressive."
Alabama has one singles netter and a doubles team ranked in the national standings this week with Guarachi coming in at No. 39 and Guarachi and sophomore Courtney McLane at No. 60.
Sunday's meeting marks the seventh in the series with the Tide holding a slight 4-3 edge. In last season's match on Jan. 30, Alabama came out on top 7-0.
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