May 11, 2002
SAN DIEGO - No. 19 Arizona won the final two singles matches to rally for a 4-3 victory over No. 26 San Diego State in the first round of the NCAA Women's Tennis Regional in Tempe, Ariz.
The Wildcats improved to 12-10 and advance to Sunday's second round. San Diego State ends the campaign with an 18-9 record.
Arizona opened the match by claiming the doubles point by virtue of victories at number one and number three. The Wildcats ninth-ranked team of Debbie Larocque and Maja Mlakar posted an 8-3 victory over Katja Karrento and Katalina Romero. Arizona sealed the point when Dianne Hollands and Brooke Taylor disposed of Julie Anna Chidley and Lindsey Hedberg 8-4.
The Aztecs drew even with a 6-3, 6-0 victory by Romero at the number four slot. The Wildcats retook the lead when 19th-ranked Mlakar defeated 69th-ranked Silvia Tornier, 6-4, 6-3.
San Diego State won the next two singles matches to pull ahead 3-2. At number five singles, Katey Clark Becker recorded a 6-2, 6-2 win, while Chidley won 6-2, 6-4 at number six. Arizona tied the match at three when Hollands defeated Karrento, 6-4, 6-1 on the number three court.
That's when all eyes turned to the number two singles match, where Arizona's Debbie Larocque rallied form a set down to defeat Hedberg and clinch the dual victory for the Wildcats with a 1-6, 6-3, 6-4 win.
NCAA First Round in Tempe, Ariz.: No. 19 Arizona 4, No. 26 San Diego State 3
Doubles (Arizona wins point)No. 1 - No. 9 Debbie Larocque/Maja Mlakar (UA) def. Katja Karrento/Katalina Romero (SDSU) - 8-3No. 2 - Silvia Tornier/Indra Erichsen (SDSU) vs. Laresa Marino/Marie-Pier Pouliot (UA) - Did Not FinishNo. 3 - Dianne Hollands/Brooke Taylor (UA) def. Julie Anna Chidley/Lindsey Hedberg (SDSU) - 8-4Order of Finish: 1, 3
SinglesNo. 1 - No. 19 Maja Mlakar (UA) def. No. 69 Silvia Tornier (SDSU) - 6-4, 6-3No. 2 - No. 59 Debbie Larocque (UA) def. Lindsey Hedberg (SDSU) - 1-6, 6-3, 6-4No. 3 - No. 106 Dianne Hollands (UA) def. Katja Karrento (SDSU) - 6-4, 6-1No. 4 - Katalina Romero (SDSU) def. Pernne Pernin (UA) - 6-3, 6-0No. 5 - Katey Clark-Becker (SDSU) def. Marie-Pier Pouliot (UA) - 6-2, 6-2No. 6 - Indra Erichsen (SDSU) def. Daniela Torres (UA) - 6-2, 6-4Order of Finish: 4, 1, 5, 6, 3, 2Clinched Match: 2
Records: SDSU (18-9), Arizona (12-10).
-SDSU-