Tulane University
Texas
Women's Tennis Topples Texas At NCAA Tournament
May 9, 2003 | Women's Tennis
May 9, 2003
GAINESVILLE, Fla. - - Tulane defeated Texas 4-0 in the first round of the NCAA Division I Women's Tennis Championships played at Linder Stadium at Ring Tennis Complex in Gainesville, Fla. The Green Wave (20-4) face the winner of the Florida-Florida Atlantic match in the second round on Saturday at 5 p.m.
Tulane, advances to the NCAA Second Round for the second time in school history, and for the first time since 2001, posts its first 20-win season ever.
"Any time you can beat Texas in anything you've done a great thing," Tulane head coach David Schumacher said. "The doubles point was critical. I thought (Tulane's No. 3 team) came out nervous and knew that once they cracked the scoreboard they would relax. Winning the doubles point was importance because I knew that Texas would be strong up and down the singles lineup. I'm really proud, everybody played well. Now, we'll watch some of the other match, rest, get out of the sun, stay hydrated and get ourselves ready for tomorrow. It's hot in New Orleans, but not as hot as it is here."
Texas concludes its year with a 11-15 record, the first losing record since the 1986 season. Friday's first round loss is the Longhorns earliest exit in their 21 NCAA Championship appearances.
"It's extremely disappointing," Texas head coach Jeff Moore said. "I don't think we gave it our best effort, but it's been a rough year. The team has faced a lot of adversity. We do have our core of young players who can really make a difference returning next year and they will be able to bring the program back to level of competitiveness where accustomed to."
The Green Wave capitalized on the momentum of winning the doubles point and stormed through singles action, winning the necessary three matches in one hour and 23 minutes.
Tulane held the momentum after doubles play, where the Green Wave No. 3 duo of Ana Maria Saaibi and Erika Valdes rallied against Macey Breece and Michelle Krinke for a 9-8 (7-2) victory that provided the clinching point. Saaibi and Valdes found themselves on the receiving end of an early 4-0 deficit before staging their comeback win. After evening the score at 4-all, the next two games were service holds before Tulane broke Breece's serve in the 11th game to take a 6-5 lead. But Texas broke right back against Valdes and held to take a 7-6 lead. Tulane's Saaibi then held at love and carried that momentum into the next game, where the Green Wave jumped on Breece's serve, winning the first three points and eventually earning the break and an 8-7 lead. Tulane had one match point with Valdes serving in the 16th game, but an overhead sailed long and eventually Texas broke back to stay in the match and force a tiebreaker to decide the doubles point.
"They started the match playing really good and I have to confess that I started the match a little bit nervous," Valdes said. "I wanted to win this match so badly and play my best. I'm really, really happy. I just can't explain how happy I am."
Valdes also rallied during her No. 4 singles matches against Ziva Grasic, providing the clinching dual match victory with a 6-3, 6-1 decision. Valdes fell behind 3-0 to open the match, but won 12 of the next 13 games to complete the comeback.
The No. 1 doubles match featured a pair of nationally ranked teams and the Texas tandem of Kendra Strohm and Ziva Grasic, ranked 22nd, upset 10th-ranked Julie Smekodub and Jenny Kuhn 8-6. There were several service breaks in the match, but crucial one came during the 11th game, when the Lady Longhorns took Kuhn's serve in a long game and then held for a 7-5 lead. Smekodub then held her serve, but Texas polished off the match in the ensuing game.
Nancy Kockott and Maria Ivanov gave Tulane its first victory of the NCAA Championships, posting an 8-4 win at the No. 2 doubles spot against Kelly Baritot and Leigh Tucker. That result helped set the stage for the clinching match to be decided at the No. 3 position.
NCAA Division I Women's Tennis Championships
First Round ~ Linder Stadium at Ring Tennis Complex, Gainesville, Fla.
Friday, May 09, 2003
Tulane 4 def. Texas 0
Doubles
1. Strohm/Grasic (22), Texas d. Smekodub/Kuhn (10), Tulane 8-6
2. Kockott/Ivanov, Tulane d. Baritot/Tucker, Texas 8-4
3. Saaibi/Erika Valdes, Tulane d. Breece/Krinke, Texas 9-8 (7-2)
Singles
1. Julie Smekodub (33), Tulane vs. Kendra Strohm (66), Texas DNF
2. Jenny Kuhn (61), Tulane vs. Michelle Krinke, Texas DNF
3. Maria Ivanov, Tulane vs. Kelly Baritot, Texas DNF
4. Erika Valdes (109), Tulane d. Ziva Grasic, Texas 6-3, 6-1*
5. Ana Saaibi, Tulane d. Macey Breece, Texas 6-2, 6-2
6. Nancy Kockott, Tulane d. Leigh Tucker, Texas 6-0, 6-1
