NEW ORLEANS - The University of New Orleans won a pair of duals against
Prairie View A&M on Saturday afternoon, overcoming injuries to
defeat the Panthers 6-1 in men's play and 4-0 in the women's dual.
The UNO women (4-7-1), who had lost two in a row, entered the match against PV (3-3) after suffering a loss a day earlier against Southern Illinois in which the team was forced to retire in three matches due to injury.
Bouncing back from that defeat, the Privateers posted two quick wins in doubles' play.
Cassandra Escobar and
Kozue Matsumoto were 8-0 winners over Melissa Guerrier and Aljandra Barrera at No. 1 with
Kristina Martic and
Sofija Karalic finishing off the doubles' point by an 8-1 decision over Lerato Ndlovu and Lise Karenzi.
In singles' play, UNO needed just one win to claim the dual, since the Panthers were playing with just four players. Escobar was the lone winner, taking a 6-0, 6-0 victory over Ndlovu at No. 2.
Matsumoto, Howey and Martic all led in their respective matches, which were called off the court after the dual was clinched.
The UNO men (2-6) have also been reeling due to injuries, dropping four straight matches since the program's historic win over Tulane on Feb. 20.
PV (5-2) was no match for the Privateers, however as the hosts won each of the contested matches on the day.
UNO had to rally in doubles' play after losing at the No. 3 court due to carrying just five players.
Stepan Siska and
Guilherme Rebolo won at No. 1 8-3 over Kuda Nyatoti and Ronald Chizikwe with
Ben Smith and
Abdelrahman Zaki defeating Christopher Jordan and Jose Garcia 8-4.
In singles' play, the Panthers posted a win at No. 6 due to the lack of a sixth player, before UNO won five straight matches. Siska, Smith, Rebolo and Zaki all added to their doubles' wins by posting a straight set victory against PV.
Rohit Chivukula posted his first career singles' win by defeating Kristin Powell 6-3, 6-4 at No. 5 to close the day.
"Today's duals were really good for our confidence and came at the right time," said head coach
Burzis Kanga. "This was a good match in the sense that we were facing one of the top teams in the SWAC."
"We have another challenge on Sunday for the men as UTSA is a good club, that we will have to perform at a high level against. After that, UNC Wilmington and Drake have both been nationally ranked, so we will need to build off the confidence and stay healthy."
The UNO men will face UTSA at 12 p.m. on Sunday before facing UNC-Wilmington and Drake on Thursday and Friday, respectively in Wilmington, N.C. The Privateer women will stay at home for matches against Purdue on Wednesday and Samford on Friday.
University of New Orleans women 4, Prairie View A&M 0
Mar 13, 2010 at New Orleans, La. (University Tennis Ctr)Singles competition
1.
Kozue Matsumoto (UNOW) vs. Melissa Guerrier (PVAMU) 6-3, 2-2, unfinished
2.
Cassandra Escobar (UNOW) def. Lerato Ndlovu (PVAMU) 6-0, 6-0
3.
Ceara Howey (UNOW) vs. Alejandra Barrera (PVAMU) 6-2, 5-0, unfinished
4.
Kristina Martic (UNOW) vs. Lise Karenzi (PVAMU) 6-2, 1-2, unfinished
5.
Amber Garza (UNOW) def. No player (PVAMU), by walkover
6.
Sofija Karalic (UNOW) def. No player (PVAMU), by walkover
Doubles competition
1.
Cassandra Escobar/
Kozue Matsumoto (UNOW) def. Alejandra Barrera/Melissa Guerrier (PVAMU) 8-0
2.
Kristina Martic/
Sofija Karalic (UNOW) def. Lerato Ndlovu/Lise Karenzi (PVAMU) 8-1
3.
Ceara Howey/
Amber Garza (UNOW) def. No player/No player (PVAMU), by walkover
University of New Orleans men 6, Prairie View A&M 1
Mar 13, 2010 at New Orleans, La. (University Tennis Ctr)Singles competition
1.
Stepan Siska (UNO) def. Kuda Nyatoti (PVAMU) 6-1, 6-0
2.
Ben Smith (UNO) def. Ronald Chidzikwe (PVAMU) 7-5, 6-1
3.
Guilherme Rebolo (UNO) def. Jose Garcia (PVAMU) 6-3, 6-3
4.
Abdelrahman Zaki (UNO) def. Christopher Jordan (PVAMU) 6-1, 6-2
5.
Rohit Chivukula (UNO) def. Kristin Powell (PVAMU) 6-3, 6-4
6. Jimmy Yates (PVAMU) def. No player (UNO), by walkover
Doubles competition
1.
Stepan Siska/
Guilherme Rebolo (UNO) def. Ronald Chidzikwe/Kuda Nyatoti (PVAMU) 8-3
2.
Ben Smith/
Abdelrahman Zaki (UNO) def. Christopher Jordan/Jose Garcia (PVAMU) 8-4
3. Jimmy Yates/Kristin Powell (PVAMU) def. No player/No player (UNO), by walkover
