Tucson, Ariz.- The Arizona women's tennis team snapped a five match losing streak and improved to 10-8 on the season today, after defeating the University of Alabama Birmingham by a score of 4-2.
“It's nice to get back to our winning ways,” said head coach Vicky Maes. " UAB came out strong in the doubles and battled us hard all the way to the end. We didn't play great but we did what we needed to do to get the W, so we're please about that."
Arizona faltered in doubles competition to give UAB the early advantage. Senior Inge Hendrikx and junior Samantha Czarniak fell to UAB's Pardis Kianoush and Elaine Simone on court one by a score of 6-3 moments before freshmen Camila Wesbrooks and Sophia Thomas lost to Catherine Ragon and Reghan Lynch on court three (6-3). Senior Shayne Austin and sophomore Devin Chypyha finished play on court two despite having lost the doubles point and ended up defeating Sophie Dodds and Amy Lowther by a score of 6-2.
Arizona didn't trail for long however. Wesbrooks defeated Dodds on court four in two quick sets (6-0, 6-0) to tie things up just a few moments before junior Lauren Marker defeated Kianoush on court one by the same score, giving Arizona the lead. Chypyha brought the Wildcats within one point of victory with her 6-1, 6-0 win over Ragon on court three.
Gartner lost two close sets to Lynch on court six, but the Wildcats were able to secure the win with Austin's 6-2, 5-7, 6-1 win on court two. Czarniak's match on court five was halted shortly after she won the first set, 7-6 ensuring that the final score would remain 4-2.
Arizona has a day to rest before their next match against Sacramento State on Saturday, March 24 at 9 a.m. MST. Sacramento State will be facing UAB a day prior at 10 a.m. MST. Admission Into LaNelle Robson is always free and live stats will be available for both matches HERE.
Doubles Lineups
1. Pardis Kianoush and Elaine Simon (UAB) def Inge Hendrikx and Samantha Czarniak (UA) 6-3
2: Shayne Austin and Devin Chypyha (UA) def. Sophie Dodds and Amy Lowther (UAB) 6-2
3: Catherine Ragon and Reghan Lynch (UAB) def. Camila Wesbrooks and Sophia Thomas (UA) 6-3
Singles
1. Marker (UA) def. Kianoush (UAB) 6-0, 6-0
2. Austin (UA) def. Simon (UAB) 6-2, 5-7, 6-1
3. Chypyha (UA) def. Ragon (UAB) 6-1, 6-0
4. Wesbrooks (UA) def. Dodds (UAB) 6-0, 6-0
5. Czarniak (UA) def. Lowther (UAB) 7-6, 2-1 UF
6. Lynch (UAB) def. Gartner (UA) 6-3, 6-4
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