March 8, 2008
SAN DIEGO - The 72nd-ranked San Diego State women's tennis team put an end to its two-match losing skid with a hard-fought 4-3 victory over Penn on Saturday afternoon at Aztec Tennis Center. SDSU improves to 6-6 on the season while handing the Quakers just their second loss of the year, dropping them to 3-2 overall.
The Aztecs started off on a rough note as Penn claimed the doubles point after taking matches at the top and bottom of the doubles ladder. San Diego State, however, was able to avoid the doubles sweep after Holly Bagshaw and Eliska Krausova pulled out a 9-8(3) decision over Maria Anisimova and Charlotte Tansill at No. 2.
SDSU tied the score at 1 in singles play when Esther Cadua breezed through her match with Michelle Mitchell at the fifth position by posting a 6-0, 6-0 victory. But as quick as the Aztecs knotted the score, Penn's Ekaterina Kosminskaya reclaimed the lead for the Quakers after she upset No. 86 Julia Trunk at the top spot, 6-3, 6-1.
Much later, the duo of Bagshaw and Krausova continued their winning ways as Bagshaw was victorious at No. 2 with her win over Yulia Rivelis, 4-6, 6-2, 6-2, while Krausova notched a 6-0, 3-6, 6-3 victory over Julia Koulbitskaya at third singles.
Following a Quaker win at No. 4 to tie score at 3, the overall outcome of the match came down to the No. 6 singles contest between Sisse Nielsen and Penn's Lauren Sadaka. Nielsen's serve was broken in the first set, which resulted in a 3-6 defeat, but the senior stormed back and took control of the match, winning the final two sets, 6-2, 6-2, to give SDSU the deciding point.
San Diego State will look to add to its winning streak next Thursday, March 13, as it will play host to No. 37 Wake Forest at Aztec Tennis Center. First serve is set for 2 p.m. PT.
#72 San Diego State 4, Penn 3
Aztec Tennis Center (San Diego, Calif.)
Doubles
1. Ekaterina Kosminskaya/Yulia Rivelis (Penn) def. Kathryn Kitts/Sisse Nielsen (SDSU), 8-6
2. Holly Bagshaw/Eliska Krausova (SDSU) def. Maria Anisimova/Charlotte Tansill (Penn), 9-8(3)
3. Amanda Avedissian/Julia Koulbitskaya (Penn) def. Milana Yusupov/Esther Cadua (SDSU), 8-6
Penn wins doubles point
Singles
1. Ekaterina Kosminskaya (Penn) def. #86 Julia Trunk (SDSU), 6-3, 6-1
2. Holly Bagshaw (SDSU) def. Yulia Rivelis (Penn), 4-6, 6-2, 6-2
3. Eliska Krausova (SDSU) def. Julia Koulbitskaya (Penn), 6-0, 3-6, 6-3
4. Charlotte Tansill (Penn) def. Milana Yusupov (SDSU), 6-4, 2-6, 6-4
5. Esther Cadua (SDSU) def. Michelle Mitchell (Penn), 6-0, 6-0
6. Sisse Nielsen (SDSU) def. Lauren Sadaka (Penn), 3-6, 6-2, 6-2
Order of Finish
Doubles: 1, 3, 2
Singles: 5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 6