NEW ORLEANS - The University of New Orleans spoiled Northern Iowa head
coach Sachin Kirtane's first attempt to become the school's all-time
career win leader, by defeating UNI 4-3 on Tuesday afternoon at the
University Tennis Center.
Kachin, who entered the match with with 83 wins at the helm of the Panthers program watched as the doubles' point ended up being the most crucial point of the seven contested on the day as UNO (8-5) bounced back from losing on the No. 2 court to win the next two matches to claim the doubles' point.
The Privateers first received a victory on the No. 3 court where
Amber Garza and
Kir Kemp made their debut as a duo in an 8-6 victory over Taynara Moraes and Jessica Kunzelmann, who entered the dual with an 8-2 record this spring.
In the deciding doubles' match,
Kozue Matsumoto and
Cassandra Escobar rallied from down 6-3 to tie the match at six all. Following a break to push the score to 8-7, Escobar served out to win the match 9-7. The victory was the ninth in a row for the UNO pair, who improved to 10-2 this spring.
The UNI (9-3) tandem of Laia Gonzalez-Garrido and Phoebe Walker were the victors at No. 2, improving to 9-2 this spring with a 8-3 win over
Sofija Karalic and
Ceara Howey.
With the doubles' point in hand, UNO needed just three wins in singles' play to claim the dual.
Matsumoto and Garza both picked up singles' victories, to go undefeated on the day. Matsumoto defeated Kanada 6-3, 6-2 at the No. 3 position while Garza upped her record to 3-0 at the No. 5 position with a 6-3, 6-1 win over Moraes. Howey closed out the winners for the Privateer women, by defeating Kunzelmann 6-2, 6-3 at No. 4.
Winners for the Panthers included Walker at No. 2 and Mendez at No. 6. Walker improved to 9-3 in dual play by defeating Escobar 6-4, 6-4 while Mendez is now 8-3 this spring after picking up a victory over Karalic 6-2, 6-2.
In the other match, Gonzalez-Garrido and Kemp went the distance at No. 1 with Gonzalez-Garrido bouncing back from a set down to defeat Kemp 4-6, 7-5, 10-4.
After less than 24 hours after wrapping up today's match, the Privateer women will again take the court at the UTC as they face Big East foe West Virginia at 5 p.m. on Wednesday.
University of New Orleans 4, Northern Iowa 3
Mar 17, 2009 at New Orleans, La. (University Tennis Center)
Singles competition
1. L. Gonzalez-Garrido (UNI) def.
Kir Kemp (UNOW) 4-6, 7-5, 10-4
2. Phoebe Walker (UNI) def.
Cassandra Escobar (UNOW) 6-4, 6-4
3.
Kozue Matsumoto (UNOW) def. Sampada Kanade (UNI) 6-3, 6-2
4.
Ceara Howey (UNOW) def. Jessica Kunzelmann (UNI) 6-2, 6-3
5.
Amber Garza (UNOW) def. Taynara Moraes (UNI) 6-3, 6-1
6. Diana Mendez (UNI) def.
Sofija Karalic (UNOW) 6-2, 6-2
Doubles competition
1.
Kozue Matsumoto/
Cassandra Escobar (UNOW) def. Sampada Kanade/Diana Mendez (UNI) 9-7
2. L. Gonzalez-Garrido/Phoebe Walker (UNI) def.
Sofija Karalic/
Ceara Howey (UNOW) 8-3
3.
Amber Garza/
Kir Kemp (UNOW) def. Taynara Moraes/Jessica Kunzelmann (UNI) 8-6
