May 9, 2008

FRESNO, Calif. - The 16th-ranked Fresno State women's tennis team defeated Lamar, 4-0, on Friday at the Wathen Tennis Center in the first round of the NCAA tournament. This was the first meeting for the Bulldogs and Lamar.

"Lamar is a good team. Even though they weren't ranked they were 25-2 and won a lot of matches this season," head coach Simon Thibodeau said.

Fresno State started the match with an early lead, winning the doubles point in less than an hour. At the No. 1 spot, 2nd-ranked Melanie Gloria and Tinesta Rowe defeated Andrea Martinez and Mariaryeni Gutierrez, 8-2.

Clinching the doubles point at the No. 2 spot, No.33-ranked Renata Kucerkova and Anastasia Petukhova dominated their match beating Manijee Ashrafi and Maria Gutierrez, 8-2.

The singles round got underway and the bulldogs stayed in the lead with an early win by Petukhova at the No. 2 spot. She defeated Mariayeni Gutierrez, 6-0, 6-1. Gutierrez was a perfect 25-0 in dual matches and 39-3 before the match.

"It was great to play someone who was undefeated, I had no idea until after the match that I was her first loss," Petukhova said. "She was a very strong player."

"Anastasia played well today," Thibodeau said."She beat a solid player and executed very well. It was good to have a tough match today."

Playing at the No. 5 spot for the Bulldogs, Jacqueline Haskett picked up a win, defeating Manijee Ashrafi, 6-1, 6-1.

Clinching the match for the 'Dogs and moving them to the second round was Kucerkova at the No. 3 spot. Kucerkova defeated Kaltrina Harbuzi, 6-0, 6-3.

"Tomorrow will be very competitive. Arizona State has a good team and we are looking forward to playing against them," Thibodeau said. "I got a chance to watch them some today and they are what I expected, a very good Pac-10 team."

On Saturday the Bulldogs will move on and battle the Sun Devils at 1 p.m. at the Wathen Tennis Center. Tickets for the NCAA Regional will be $5.00 for adults and $3.00 for seniors, youth and students. Tickets are sold the day of the event at the main entrance of the venue and will not be available for presale.

First Match- No. 21 Arizona State def. No. 53 Sacramento State, 4-0

No. 21 Arizona State dominated their match against No. 53 Sacramento State, 4-0 in the first round of the NCAA Championships on Friday afternoon. The Sun Devils came out with confidence and played a good match.

In doubles, sisters Laila Abdala Nadia Abdala of Arizona defeated Melissa Valenzuela and Katrina Zheltova of Sacramento State 8-2 at the No. 1 spot. Arizona's Jessica Leitch and Wendy Pilecka were victorious at the No. 2 spot, defeating Sacramento's Karina Jarlkaganova and Luba Schifris, 8-3.

In singles, Arizona State won three of the matches to ensure the win and move them to the next round.

At the No.2 spot, Arizona's Kelcy McKenna had an early win, defeating Sacramento's Anastassia Lyssenko, 6-2, 6-0. The next to win for Arizona was Laila Abdala at the No. 2 spot, defeating Melissa Valenzuela, 6-3, 6-2.

Clinching the match for the Sun Devils at the No. 6 spot, Ashlee Brown defeated Sacramento's Joyce Martinez, 6-1, 7-5.

NCAA Tennis Championships (First and Second Rounds)
Wathen Tennis Center
May 9, 2008

No. 16 Fresno State def. Lamar, 4-0

Doubles (Fresno State wins doubles point)
1) No. 2 Melanie Gloria/Tinesta Rowe (FS) def. Andrea Martinez/Mariaryeni Gutierrez (LMU), 8-2
2) No.33 Renata Kucerkova/Anastasia Petukhova (FS) def. Manijee Ashrafi/Maria Gutierrez (LMU), 8-2
3) Danon Beatty/Jacqueline Haskett (FS) vs. Salina Aranda/Kaltrina Harbuzi (LMU), 5-2 DNF
Order of Completion: 1, 2

Singles
1) No. 16 Melanie Gloria (FS) vs. Andrea Martinez (LMU) 6-4, 4-3 DNF
2) No. 22 Anastasia Petukhova (FS) def. Mariayeni Gutierrez (LMU) 6-0, 6-1
3) *Renata Kucerkova (FS) def. Kaltrina Harbuzi (LMU) 6-0, 6-3
4) No. 110 Tinesta Rowe (FS) vs. Maria Gutierrez (LMU) 5-7, 4-2 DNF
5) Jacqueline Haskett (FS) def. Manijee Ashrafi (LMU) 6-1, 6-1
6) Danon Beatty (FS) vs. Manami Kuroda (LMU) 6-4, 4-2 DNF
Order of Completion: 2, 5, 3
*clinched match

Records: Fresno State (21-7); Lamar University (24-3)

NCAA Tennis Championships (First and Second Rounds)
Wathen Tennis Center
May 9, 2008

No. 21 Arizona State def. No. 53 Sacramento State, 4-0

Doubles (Arizona wins doubles point)
1) No. 30 Laila Abdala/Nadia Abdala (ASU) def. Melissa Valenzuela/Katrina Zheltova (CSUS), 8-2
2) No. 50 Jessica Leitch/Wendy Pilecka (ASU) def. Karina Jarlkaganova/Luba Schifris (CSUS), 8-3
3) Kelcy McKenna/Lauren Megale (ASU) vs. Anastassia Lyssenko/Aileen Tsan (CSUS), 6-5(DNF)
Order of Completion: N/A

Singles
1) No. 23 Nadia Abdala (ASU) vs. No. 34 Katrina Zheltova (CSUS) 7-5, 6-5 DNF
2) No. 26 Kelcy McKenna (ASU) def. Anastassia Lyssenko (CSUS) 6-2, 6-0
3) Laila Abdala (ASU) def. Melissa Valenzuela (CSUS) 6-3, 6-2
4) Jessica Leitch (ASU) vs. Luba Schifris (CSUS) 3-6, 6-3, 3-1 DNF
5) Wendy Pilecka (ASU) vs. Karina Jarlkaganova (CSUS) 6-4, 3-5 DNF
6) *Ashlee Brown (ASU) def. Joyce Martinez (CSUS) 6-1, 7-5
Order of Completion: N/A
*clinched match

Records: Arizona State (15-7); Sacramento State (21-7)