NEW ORLEANS – The New Orleans women's tennis team posted a critical win at the No. 1 doubles' court to seize momentum and defeat Alcorn State 6-1 on Saturday afternoon at the University Tennis Center.
With both teams claiming a doubles' match, all attention fell on the deciding No. 1 doubles' position.
The UNO (4-10) tandem of
Kristina Martic and
Soledad Calderon Arroyo went to a tiebreaker with the ASU (2-9) duo of Kersten Vanem and Viktoriya Kozachuk. With the doubles' point on the line, Martic and Calderon were able to prevail in the tiebreaker, posting a 9-8 (4) victory over their opponents.
The result had an immediate impact on the Privateers, who ended a three-dual losing skid.
UNO won 5 of 6 singles' matches with the only victory for the Braves coming at the No. 3 position where Martic retired due to an injury with a 3-2 deficit in the first set.
The other Privateers all claimed victories, starting with straight set wins by
Marta Sans and Arroyo at the No. 1 and No. 2 courts, respectively.
Fanny Benincasa at the No. 4 position and
Paula Jimenez Sanchez on the No. 6 court were also victors for UNO in just two sets apiece.
Completing the sweep of completed singles' matches was
Victoria Svensson, who rallied from a first set deficit for a 0-6, 6-3, 7-5 win at the No. 5 position against Aakanksha Pont.
Saturday's win was just the first in four home matches for UNO, which will seek to create a winning streak at home on Wednesday at 3 p.m. when the squad battles nationally-ranked NAIA foe Xavier.
New Orleans 6, Alcorn State 1
Mar 16, 2013 at New Orleans, La. (University Tennis Ctr)
Singles competition
1.
Marta Sans (UNO) def. Kersten Vanem (ASU) 6-3, 6-4
2. Soledad Calderon (UNO) def. Arielle Buchmann (ASU) 6-1, 6-3
3. Viktoriya Kozachuk (ASU) def.
Kristina Martic (UNO) 3-2, retired
4.
Fanny Benincasa (UNO) def. Kate Potapova (ASU) 6-1, 6-2
5.
Victoria Svensson (UNO) def. Aakanksha Pont (ASU) 0-6, 6-3, 7-5
6. Paula Jimenez (UNO) def. Merilin Tipp (ASU) 6-2, 7-6 (7-1)
Doubles competition
1.
Kristina Martic/Soledad Calderon (UNO) def. Kersten Vanem/Viktoriya Kozachuk (ASU) 9-8 (7-4)
2.
Fanny Benincasa/
Marta Sans (UNO) def. Kate Potapova/Merilin Tipp (ASU) 8-3
3. Arielle Buchmann/Aakanksha Pont (ASU) def.
Victoria Svensson/Paula Jimenez (UNO) 8-3
