April 3, 2010
LOS ANGELES, Calif.--The No. 53 Arizona women's tennis team defeated Loyola Marymount 6-1 Saturday.
The Cats started off strong with a sweeping win of the doubles point. In the No. 1 position, sophomore Sarah Landsman and junior Jane Huh defeated Jasmin Heckel and Shuana Morgan 8-1. At No. 2, the duo of seniors Claire Rietsch and Natalia Toporowska defeated Melissa Valenzuela and Bliss Nixon 8-4. In the No. 3 spot, sophomores Natasha Marks and Debora Castany defeated Elisaveta Pironkova and Jane Pringle 8-4.
In singles, No. 105 ranked Marks led the way in the No. 1 position with a 6-3, 6-2 win over Heckel. In the No. 2 spot, Landsman, ranked at No. 84 took down Pringle in straight sets 6-0, 6-0.
At No. 3, Rietsch took down Estelle LaPorte 7-5, 6-1, and No. 4 Toporowska came out on top over Valenzuela 6-3, 6-1.
On court five, Castany defeated Nixon 6-3, 6-2. The Lions' only point for the day came in the No. 6 position with Huh falling to Pironkova 6-2, 6-0.
"The Cats played another solid match today." Said head coach Vicky Maes, "We started strong in the doubles. At number 1, it's the best I have seen them play so that set a good tone. In singles, everyone took care of business. Jane struggled, but she is slowly getting back into the groove. It was definitely a successful weekend and now we have to focus on a good week of practice."
With the win, the Wildcats' record improves to 12-6, 1-4 Pac-10, while LMU falls to 3-12 on the year.
Next week, the Wildcats will return to Los Angeles, and the Pac-10 conference schedule, against UCLA on Friday, April 9 at 1:30pm and against USC on Saturday, April 10 at noon.
Complete Results:
Singles
1. Natasha Marks UA def. Jasmin Heckel LMU 6-3, 6-2
2. Sarah Landsman UA def. Jane Pringle LMU 6-0, 6-0
3. Claire Rietsch UA def. Estelle LaPorte LMU 7-5, 6-1
4. Natalia Toporowska UA def. Melissa Valenzuela LMU 6-3, 6-1
5. Debora Castany UA def. Bliss Nixon LMU 6-3, 6-2
6. Elisaveta Pironkova LMU def. Jane Huh UA 6-2, 6-0
Doubles
1. Sarah Landsman/Jane Huh UA def. Jasmin Heckel/Shuana Morgan 8-1
2. Claire Rietsch/Natalia Toporowska UA def. Melissa Valenzuela/Bliss Nixon LMU 8-4
3. Natasha Marks/Debora Castany UA def. Elisaveta Pironkova/Jane Pringle LMU 8-4
