March 4, 2011

TUCSON - The No. 26-ranked Arizona Wildcat women's tennis team opened Pac-10 play today at LaNelle Robson Tennis Center. The Wildcats picked up their first Pac-10 win against the Oregon Ducks, 6-1, on Friday.

"We're pleased to get this win," said head coach Vicky Maes. "We didn't play our best but the team competed hard and got the job done. We're excited to play Washington State tomorrow. They are a good team and we'll have to be ready for a fight."

In doubles action, the Cats won two of three matches to seal the doubles point. First to finish was the team of senior Jane Huh and freshman Susan Mc Rann on court three. The duo came out strong to win the first game and maintained a lead throughout the match. Huh and Mc Rann beat Pascale Neubert and Rebea Stuckemann, 8-2.

The No. 67-ranked junior duo of Sarah Landsman and Natasha Marks finished next on court one. In a close match against Pavlina Smatova and Patricia Skowronski, the Cats fought hard to tie the match at 4-4. Marks and Landsman never looked back as they went on to win the match, 8-5, securing the doubles point for Arizona.

Freshman duo Lacey Smyth and Kim Stubbe were last to finish on court two. The UA duo led early against Julia Metzger and Trudie du Toit but the Ducks came back to tie the match at 7-7. The match entered a tie breaker and, in a close battle, the Ducks edged the Cats, 9-7.

In singles play, the Cats won five of six matches, earning their first Pac-10 win. First to finish was No. 99-ranked Marks on court two. After an early lead by Oregon's Skowronski in the first set, Marks came back to win 6-2. In the second set, Marks quickly defeated Skowronski, 6-1. Stubbe was next to finish on court four. In a close first set, Stubbe won the first game against Stueckeman but then lost two straight. Stubbe came back to win the set, 6-3. In the second set, Stubbe never let Stueckeman in and won the set 6-0.

Smyth was third to finish on court three and she quickly won her first set against Metzger, 6-0. Metzger came back strong in the second set taking the lead for the first time at 3-4. Smyth held Metzger to four games, winning the set 6-4. On court five, Mc Rann was next to finish. She took an early lead against Neubert and won the match, 6-1, 6-2.

The Wildcats' only singles loss of the day came on court one when Smatova defeated Landsman. Landsman lost the first set, 3-6, but came back to win the second, 6-3. The match entered a super tiebreaker where Smatova edged Landsman, 10-8. Last to finish was Huh on court six. In a long battle, Huh defeated Lana Buttner, 6-3, 7-6 (6).

Arizona improves to 11-2 overall and 1-0 in Pac-10 play going into Saturday's match against No. 71 Washington State. The Cats will host the Cougars at LaNelle Robson Tennis Center at 12 p.m.

No. 26 Arizona 6, Oregon 1
LaNelle Robson Tennis Center
Tucson, Ariz.
Friday, March 4, 2011

Doubles:
1. No. 67 Marks/Landsman (UA) def. Smatova/Skowronski (UO), 8-5*
2. Metzger/du Toit (UO) def. Stubbe/Smyth (UA), 9-7
3. Huh/Mc Rann (UA) def. Stueckeman/Neubert (UO), 8-2
*Arizona clinches doubles point
order of finish 3,1,2

Singles:
1. Pavlina Smatova (UO) def. Sarah Landsman (UA), 6-3, 3-6, 10-8
2. No. 99 Natasha Marks (UA) def. Patricia Skowronski (UO), 6-2, 6-1
3. Lacey Smyth (UA) def. Julia Metzger (UO), 6-0, 6-4
4. Kim Stubbe (UA) def. Rebea Stueckeman (UO), 6-3, 6-0
5. Susan Mc Rann (UA) def. Pascale Neubert (UO), 6-1, 6-2
6. Jane Huh (UA) def. Lana Buttner (UO), 6-3, 7-6 (6)
order of finish 2,4,3,5,1,6