Tide Enjoys Successful Start to UVA Invitational
1/14/2012 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
Jan. 14, 2012
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - The 23rd-ranked women's tennis team won nine of the 10 matches it competed in on the first day of play at the UVA Invitational. The Crimson Tide came out on top in all three of its doubles matches, while the remaining six wins came in singles.
"I was pleased with the way the team competed today," said Alabama head coach Jenny Mainz. "We had a solid beginning to our 2012 season. I like that we battled through some difficult situations and fought through some tough three-set matches. This is a great tournament to sharpen our play and get lots of quality matches prior to the ITA Kick-Off Weekend. The key is for the Tide to get stronger and gain momentum with each match."
The highly-successful pair of senior Courtney McLane and junior Alexa Guarachi kicked things off with an 8-2 win over Wake Forest senior Kayla Duncan and junior Kathryn Talbert, who are ranked 20th in the nation. Senior Taylor Lindsey and freshman Yasmeen Ebada would win by the same score, taking down the Demon Deacon duo of sophomore Brigita Bercyte and freshman Karen Forman. Wrapping up the sweep for Alabama in doubles was junior Antonia Foehse and sophomore Mary Anne Macfarlane, posting an 8-4 decision over Wake Forest senior Ryann Cutillo and freshman Rebecca Siegler.
In singles, 13th-ranked Macfarlane breezed through her match with No. 93 Duncan, winning 6-2, 6-2. No. 43 Guarachi battled in her set with Cutillo, and would come out victorious, 7-6(1), 6-4. Lindsey picked up a three-set victory over Forman, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, while sophomore Alex Clay advanced past Siegler 6-2, 2-6, 6-1. In addition, picking up wins for the Tide was Ebada and freshman Emily Zabor. Ebada took down Bercyte 6-3, 6-2, and Zabor came back after a first-set loss to top Utah freshman Sammie Watson, 6-7, 6-4, 10-5. McLane also represented Alabama in singles, dropping a 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 decision to Talbert.
Matches will resume on Sunday.
RESULTS
Doubles
Guarachi/McLane (UA) def. No. 20 Duncan/Talbert (WF) 8-2
Macfarlane/Foehse (UA) def. Cutillo/Siegler (WF) 8-4
Lindsey/Ebada (UA) def. Forman/Bercyte (WF) 8-2
Singles
No. 13 Mary Anne Macfarlane (UA) def. No. 93 Kayla Duncan (WF) 6-2, 6-2
No. 43 Alexa Guarachi (UA) def. Ryann Cutillo (WF) 7-6(1), 6-4
Kathryn Talbert (WF) def. No. 104 Courtney McLane (UA) 3-6, 6-4, 6-1
Taylor Lindsey (UA) def. Karen Forman (WF) 6-3, 4-6, 6-4
Alex Clay (UA) def. Rebecca Siegler (WF) 6-2, 2-6, 6-1
Yasmeen Ebada (UA) def. Brigita Bercyte (WF) 6-3, 6-2
Emily Zabor (UA) def. Sammie Watson (UTAH) 6-7, 6-4, 10-5
Players Mentioned
