Sports > March 6, 2008
Women’s tennis stumbles in Texas two-step
By LK Davey | Staff writer
The Lady Deacons’ tennis team recorded losses against Texas A&M March 1 at College Station, Texas and then again against Baylor on March 2 at Waco, Texas. The Deacons, ranked No.19, lost to the No. 32 Aggies 6-1 and No. 4 Bears 4-0.
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Freshman Emily Malvehy prepares to return the ball in an indoor meet. The team lost two matches against Texas schools March 1-2. (Kelly Makepeace/Old Gold & Black)
The Aggies swept doubles in all three competitions with victories of 8-4, 8-2 and 8-4.
In No. 2 singles match sophomore Sasha Kulikova captured the lone Deacon victory of the weekend over Texas A&M’s Anna Blagodarova (6-2, 4-6, 6-1).
Kulikova now has a record of 6-1 since the season opener against William & Mary on Jan. 26.
Juniors Alex Hirsh and Sierra Poske as well as freshman Emilee Malvehy, playing at No.1, No. 4 and No. 5 respectively, extended their matches to three sets but were unable to capitalize with victories.
The Deacons did not manage a single victory in their match against the Baylor Bears. The match was played in a “first to four” format with singles played first. The Bears only needed four singles matches to assure victory.
No. 24 Zuzana Zemenova defeated Kulikova (6-1, 6-1). No. 18 Lenka Broosova defeated junior Christian Tara (6-0, 6-2). No. 37 Jana Bielikova defeated Poske (6-2, 6-1). Karolina Filipiak clinched the match for Baylor by defeating Reveche (6-2, 6-1).
Hirsch and Malvehy did not finish their singles matches and none of the doubles games were neccessary.
The Baylor Bears have four athletes ranked in the ITA Top 40, including No. 18 sophomore Broosova, who is 8-0 this season at the number two and three slots.
Broosova and her partner Zemenova are ranked No. 4 nationally in doubles and hold an undefeated record at the top of the Baylor doubles lineup.
Next the Deacons will host a midweek match with Texas Christian March 6 before opening ACC competition with Virginia and Virginia Tech at the WFU Indoor Tennis Center on March 8 and 9.