Tulane University
Rice Invitational
Kurdadze, Lange Advance To Singles Draw Finals At Rice Classic
Sep 27, 2009 | Women's Tennis
Sept. 26, 2009
HOUSTON - Sophomores Mariam Kurdadze and Jessica Lange advanced to the championship round in singles action and the tandem of Caroline Gerber and Marcela Fonseca won the Flight 4 Doubles Draw as the Tulane University women's tennis team enjoyed another solid performance in day two of the Rice Classic Saturday at the Jake Hess Tennis Stadium.
For the day, Tulane was one win above .500 as a team with a 6-2 showing in singles play and a 1-4 mark in doubles matches. The Rice Classic will conclude on Sunday, Sept. 27, with the final round of singles slated to begin at 8:30 a.m.
"Today was an amazing day for Tulane Tennis," Tulane head women's tennis coach Terri Sisk said. "We won six out of eight singles matches with both of the losses being in three sets. Mariam had an outstanding day. She did a great job of attacking at the right time and remaining positive and focused throughout the match."
Kurdadze, who was named Louisiana Freshman of the Year while garnering first-team All-Conference USA and first-team All-Louisiana honors in 2009, won her first set against SMU's Aleksandra Malyarchikova. Malyarchikova - the No. 96 singles player in the country in the preseason Intercollegiate Tennis Association rankings - rallied for a 6-4 win in the second set to tie the match, but the third set was all Tulane as Kurdadze cruised to a 6-1 win.
Her victory in the front draw of the Flight 1 Sinlges marked the first time a Tulane player defeated a nationally-ranked foe since the 2004-05 season. Kurdadze advances to battle Rice's Rebekka Hanle on Sunday for the Flight 1 title.
Lange, meanwhile, defeated LSU's Sloane Mathis in the Flight 8 Singles front draw, 6-2, 6-3, and will play Julie Wiegand of Texas on Sunday in the draw's championship match.
Other Tulane individuals to post wins on Saturday were freshmen Emma Levy and Emma Helistén, along with Gerber and fellow sophomore Sharon Siegel. Levy defeated Andrea Giraldo of Texas State in the Flight 2 back draw, 6-0, 6-3, while Helistén rallied for a 3-6 defeat in her opening set to down Texas-San Antonio's Sarah Adams, 6-3, 6-3 the rest of the way in Flight 3.
Gerber defeated Vivian Carillo of Texas-San Antonio in the Flight 5 back draw, 6-3, 6-3, and Siegel improved to 4-1 on the young season with a 7-5, 6-7(4), 1-0 (10-7) decision in Flight 8.
In doubles action, Gerber and Fonseca was the only Tulane tandem to record a win, downing Channel McGregor and Claudia Hidalgo of SMU, 9-7.
"From a doubles standpoint, we have had ups and downs," Sisk said. "On a high note, Fonseca and Gerber won their flight today so that was great because they attacked and used the momentum to their advantage. Since we have had two players pull out of the tournament due to injuries, we had to shift around some doubles. But overall, I think we are moving in the right direction and will continue to do so if we keep focusing on all the little things that make a difference."
Following the Rice Classic on Sunday, Tulane continues fall play on Oct. 23-26, in Auburn, Ala., at the ITA Southern Regionals.
Players Mentioned
