NEW ORLEANS - The University of New Orleans tennis teams swept a pair
of matches against UT-Pan American on Monday morning at the University
Tennis Center, picking up a 4-3 win in men's play and a 4-0 decision
on the women's side.
The Privateer men were forced to rally from a 3-1 deficit on way to defending their home court and improving their record to 3-9 on the season.
After UNO dropped the two completed doubles' matches, it looked as if the dual would follow the path of the previous nine duals defeats, in which the Privateers dropped the doubles' point.
Luckily for head coach
Burzis Kanga, the players would not have any of it.
UNO's
Stepan Siska posted a 6-2, 6-2 win over Brett Bernstein at the No. 2 singles' spot to go with victories by UTPA (6-4) players Nirvick Mohinta at No. 6 and Ashwi Vijayaragavan at No. 1 to put the Privateers in a position in which they would have to win their remaining three matches.
Abdelrahman Zaki was the first to walk off the court, winning 7-5, 7-6 (0) over Marcus Dornauf at the No. 4 court.
The next two matches went the distance with a
Ben Smith 6-3, 1-6, 6-4 win over Beau Bernstein at No. 3 preceeding a 6-2, 6-7 (2), 6-4 dual-clinching win by
Guilherme Rebolo at No. 5 over Andrew Irving.
In women's play, UNO (5-8) had no problems defeating UTPA (2-10).
The Privateers' top doubles' duo of
Cassandra Escobar and
Kozue Matsumoto defeated Megan Bedeau and Luisa Cantu 8-6 to clinch the doubles' point after the teams split the first two matches off the court.
In singles', a
Sofija Karalic walkover win at No. 6 pushed UNO within two matches of a victory.
Escobar posted another win, defeating Cantu 6-2, 6-0 at the No. 1 position with
Amber Garza closing out the victory with a 6-1, 6-0 win over Andrea Salvetova at No. 5.
The UNO men will travel to Sun Belt rival Louisiana-Lafayette on Friday for a 4 p.m. dual while the women will host Southern Mississippi at the same time at the University Tennis Center.
University of New Orleans men 4, UT Pan American 3
Mar 22, 2010 at New Orleans, La. (University Tennis Ctr)Singles competition
1. Ashwin Vijayaragavan (UTPA) def.
Benjamin Bouhana (UNO) 6-1, 6-1
2.
Stepan Siska (UNO) def. Brett Bernstein (UTPA) 6-2, 6-2
3.
Ben Smith (UNO) def. Beau Bernstein (UTPA) 6-3, 1-6, 6-4
4.
Abdelrahman Zaki (UNO) def. Marcus Dornauf (UTPA) 7-5, 7-6 (0)
5.
Guilherme Rebolo (UNO) def. Andrew Irving (UTPA) 6-2, 6-7 (2), 6-4
6. Nirvick Mohinta (UTPA) def.
Rohit Chivukula (UNO) 6-2, 6-1
Doubles competition
1. Brett Bernstein/Beau Bernstein (UTPA) def.
Stepan Siska/
Ben Smith (UNO) 8-6
2.
Benjamin Bouhana/
Abdelrahman Zaki (UNO) vs. Ashwin Vijayaragavan/Nirvick Mohinta (UTPA) 5-5, unfinished
3. Andrew Irving/Marcus Dornauf (UTPA) def.
Rohit Chivukula/
Guilherme Rebolo (UNO) 8-2
University of New Orleans women 4, UT Pan American 0
Mar 22, 2010 at New Orleans, La. (University Tennis Ctr)Singles competition
1.
Cassandra Escobar (UNOW) def. Luisa Cantu (UTPA) 6-2, 6-0
2.
Kozue Matsumoto (UNOW) vs. Megan Bedeau (UTPA) 6-3, 1-2, unfinished
3.
Kristina Martic (UNOW) vs. Reetta Raty (UTPA) 1-6, 5-3, unfinished
4.
Ceara Howey (UNOW) vs. Sarah Burton (UTPA) 6-0, 4-1, unfinished
5.
Amber Garza (UNOW) def. Andrea Salvetova (UTPA) 6-1, 6-0
6.
Sofija Karalic (UNOW) def. No player (UTPA), by walkover
Doubles competition
1.
Cassandra Escobar/
Kozue Matsumoto (UNOW) def. Megan Bedeau/Luisa Cantu (UTPA) 8-6
2. Nina Ciric/Reetta Raty (UTPA) def.
Amber Garza/
Ceara Howey (UNOW) 8-6
3.
Sofija Karalic/
Kristina Martic (UNOW) def. Andrea Salvetova/Sarah Burton (UTPA) 8-2
