Saturday, March 17
Memphis, Tenn.
10 AM
Tulane University
4
vs
3
East Carolina
Photo by: Parker Waters
Women's Tennis Scores Huge Comeback to Topple ECU, 4-3
Mar 17, 2018 | Women's Tennis
MEMPHIS, Tenn. - In a dual match where singles matches were played before doubles, the Tulane women's tennis team made a furious rally from down 3-0 to win the final four undecided team points and outlast East Carolina, 4-3, in an American Athletic Conference battle Saturday afternoon at the Racquet Club of Memphis.
Originally scheduled to be played outdoors, inclement weather pushed competition indoors with only four available courts. ECU (10-6, 1-3 AAC) opened up with three straight-set victories on courts two, four and one, respectively, to build what appeared to be an insurmountable advantage. That was when Tulane (8-7, 1-0 AAC) put its clamps down and made its most memorable comeback of the season.
The momentum turned on court three where sophomore Ivone Alvaro won the first set, 7-5, before surrendering the second, 6-2. Just as the Pirates had secured the 3-0 overall lead, Alvaro turned the momentum in favor of the Green Wave by closing out the third frame, 6-3, to put her team on the scoreboard.
Playing with her confidence at a season-high, freshman Daniela La Fuente closed out court five, 7-6(5), 6-2, for her third straight victory, before sophomore Christina Sisti secured a victory in the final remaining singles match on court six, 6-3, 6-4, to even the team score, 3-3, with doubles left to play.
The Green Wave's momentum rolled into doubles with the match on the line, as Alvaro and junior Elena Muller were first to finish, 6-1, at the No. 2 position in the lineup. Senior Sade Atkinson and sophomore Laura Fabrizi broke the Pirates' serve at the No. 1 spot at a crucial time before securing a 6-4 triumph to complete the comeback and notched the Wave's first win over a conference opponent this spring.
Tulane will close out its road trip with a match against Memphis on Sunday 10 a.m.
Tulane 4, East Carolina 3
 Singles competitionÂ
1. #53 Celia Ruiz (ECU) def. Sade Atkinson (TLN) 7-5, 6-2
2. Lisa Hofbauer (ECU) def. Laura Fabrizi (TLN) 6-4, 6-1
3. Ivone Alvaro (TLN) def. Alisa Diercksen (ECU) 7-5, 2-6, 6-3
4. Nastja Rettich (ECU) def. Elena Muller (TLN) 7-6 (7-2), 6-0
5. Daniela La Fuente (TLN) def. Hsia Ho Chiao (ECU) 7-6 (7-5), 6-1
6. Christina Sisti (TLN) def. Sarah Sarjoo (ECU) 6-3, 6-4
 Doubles competitionÂ
1. Sade Atkinson/Laura Fabrizi (TLN) def. Celia Ruiz/Lisa Hofbauer (ECU) 6-4
2. Ivone Alvaro/Elena Muller (TLN) def. Alisa Diercksen/Annija Veinsteina (ECU) 6-1
3. Daniela La Fuente/Sofia Kurtz (TLN) vs. Hsia Ho Chiao/Nastja Rettich (ECU) 5-6, unfinished
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1); Singles (2,4,1,3,5,6)
Originally scheduled to be played outdoors, inclement weather pushed competition indoors with only four available courts. ECU (10-6, 1-3 AAC) opened up with three straight-set victories on courts two, four and one, respectively, to build what appeared to be an insurmountable advantage. That was when Tulane (8-7, 1-0 AAC) put its clamps down and made its most memorable comeback of the season.
The momentum turned on court three where sophomore Ivone Alvaro won the first set, 7-5, before surrendering the second, 6-2. Just as the Pirates had secured the 3-0 overall lead, Alvaro turned the momentum in favor of the Green Wave by closing out the third frame, 6-3, to put her team on the scoreboard.
Playing with her confidence at a season-high, freshman Daniela La Fuente closed out court five, 7-6(5), 6-2, for her third straight victory, before sophomore Christina Sisti secured a victory in the final remaining singles match on court six, 6-3, 6-4, to even the team score, 3-3, with doubles left to play.
The Green Wave's momentum rolled into doubles with the match on the line, as Alvaro and junior Elena Muller were first to finish, 6-1, at the No. 2 position in the lineup. Senior Sade Atkinson and sophomore Laura Fabrizi broke the Pirates' serve at the No. 1 spot at a crucial time before securing a 6-4 triumph to complete the comeback and notched the Wave's first win over a conference opponent this spring.
Tulane will close out its road trip with a match against Memphis on Sunday 10 a.m.
Tulane 4, East Carolina 3
 Singles competitionÂ
1. #53 Celia Ruiz (ECU) def. Sade Atkinson (TLN) 7-5, 6-2
2. Lisa Hofbauer (ECU) def. Laura Fabrizi (TLN) 6-4, 6-1
3. Ivone Alvaro (TLN) def. Alisa Diercksen (ECU) 7-5, 2-6, 6-3
4. Nastja Rettich (ECU) def. Elena Muller (TLN) 7-6 (7-2), 6-0
5. Daniela La Fuente (TLN) def. Hsia Ho Chiao (ECU) 7-6 (7-5), 6-1
6. Christina Sisti (TLN) def. Sarah Sarjoo (ECU) 6-3, 6-4
 Doubles competitionÂ
1. Sade Atkinson/Laura Fabrizi (TLN) def. Celia Ruiz/Lisa Hofbauer (ECU) 6-4
2. Ivone Alvaro/Elena Muller (TLN) def. Alisa Diercksen/Annija Veinsteina (ECU) 6-1
3. Daniela La Fuente/Sofia Kurtz (TLN) vs. Hsia Ho Chiao/Nastja Rettich (ECU) 5-6, unfinished
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1); Singles (2,4,1,3,5,6)
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
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