March 13, 2007
SAN DIEGO - The San Diego State women's tennis team returned to the courts for the first time in two weeks on Tuesday, upsetting 52nd-ranked Iowa, 4-3, in a non-conference showdown at Aztec Tennis Center. The closely contested affair went right down to the wire as sophomore Milana Yusupov secured the winning point in the final singles match of the day at the No. 5 position. With the victory, SDSU improves to 5-7 on the season while the Hawkeyes fall to 5-5.
SDSU jumped out to an early 1-0 advantage after sweeping doubles competition for the first time since the season opener on Jan. 20 against Cal State Fullerton. First off the court was the tandem of Yusupov and fellow classmate Esther Cadua, who dispatched Iowa's Kayla Berry and Kelcie Klockenga, 8-4, at the No. 3 spot. The Aztecs then clinched the pivotal point when the pairing of senior Alesya Vidov and junior Eliska Krausova emerged triumphant over Jacqueline Lee and Milica Veselinovic, 8-5, on the No. 1 court. The Scarlet and Black pocketed its third win shortly thereafter as the duo of sophomore Holly Bagshaw and junior Sisse Nielsen outlasted the Hawkeyes' Hillary Mintz and Merel Beelen, 8-6, in the No. 2 slot.
The Aztec lead quickly evaporated, however, as Iowa snared two victories at the outset of singles play. At the No. 1 position, Bagshaw suffered a 6-0, 6-1 defeat at the hands of Lee, while Krausova experienced a similar fate at No. 2, falling to Veselinovic, 6-4, 6-1. Meanwhile, Cadua brought the home team back to even after toppling Berry in straight-sets, 6-1, 6-4, on the No. 4 court.
With the scored tied at 2-2, the stage was set for a dramatic conclusion as the remaining matches were all extended to three sets. Vidov overcame an early deficit against Mintz, storming back in the final two sets to win going away, 1-6, 6-1, 6-1, at the No. 3 spot. Nielsen also fought back to even the score in her dual with Beelen at No. 6. However, the Alleroed, Denmark, native eventually succumbed, 6-3, 1-6, 6-0, after running out of steam in the third set. All eyes then turned to the No. 5 court where Yusupov survived a grueling encounter with Klockenga, 1-6, 6-4, 7-5, to give the Scarlet and Black a hard-fought victory.
SDSU jumps back into action on Saturday, March 17, when it travels to Los Angeles for a non-conference clash with Loyola Marymount. Match time is set for 1 p.m. at LMU Tennis Center.
SAN DIEGO STATE 4, No. 52 IOWA 3
March 13, 2007
Aztec Tennis Center--San Diego, Calif.
Doubles:
1. Alesya Vidov/Eliska Krausova (SDSU) def. Jacqueline Lee /Milica Veselinovic (UI), 8-5.
2. Holly Bagshaw/Sisse Nielsen (SDSU) def. Hillary Mintz/Merel Beelen (UI), 8-6.
3. Esther Cadua/Milana Yusupov (SDSU) def. Kayla Berry/Kelcie Klockenga (UI), 8-4.
San Diego State wins doubles point
Singles:
1. Jacqueline Lee (UI) def. Holly Bagshaw (SDSU), 6-0, 6-1.
2. Milica Veselinovic (UI) def. Eliska Krausova (SDSU), 6-4, 6-1.
3. Alesya Vidov (SDSU) def. Hillary Mintz (UI), 1-6, 6-1, 6-1.
4. Esther Cadua (SDSU) def. Kayla Berry (UI), 6-1, 6-4.
5. Milana Yusupov (SDSU) def. Kelcie Klockenga (UI), 1-6, 6-4, 7-5.
6. Merel Beelen (UI) def. Sisse Nielsen (SDSU), 6-3, 1-6, 6-0.
Order of finish
Doubles: 3, 1, 2
Singles: 1, 2, 4, 3, 6, 5*
*match-clinching victory