Women's Tennis Claims First Victory Against Stephen F. Austin In Regular Season Play 5-2

BOX SCORE (PDF)

NEW ORLEANS – Entering Saturday afternoon's match against Stephen F. Austin on a four-match winning streak, the University of New Orleans used the momentum to beat the visiting Ladyjacks 5-2 for the Privateers' first victory over the opposition in the regular season.

Prior to the match, the only time New Orleans (9-3, 3-1 Southland Conference) defeated Stephen F. Austin (6-7, 2-3 Southland Conference) was 4-3 in the 2015 Southland Conference Tournament.

"We played a great match today, probably one our best this season" head coach Burzis Kanga said. "Stephen F. Austin is a good team, they beat McNeese earlier this year who beat us. Everyone stepped up big today and we got a huge victory because of it."  

In doubles play, every contest ended with a 6-2 score with the Privateers winning on courts one and two. Senior Anna Segarra Rius and junior Anja Luethi kept their undefeated record when paired up in-tact with a win at the top position, while the duo of senior Yasmine Rashad and sophomore Trang Dao prevailed at the second slot.
Sophomore Brittany Johnson and freshman Claudette Gilhespie had the lone loss in doubles play, competing on the third court.

"We played doubles the way it's supposed to be played," Kanga said. "From the first serve until the last point we played hard and got the job done."

The Privateers quickly went up 2-0 overall after a victory via retirement for Luethi at the second flight. Segarra quickly moved UNO one point from clinching the first regular season victory over the Ladyjacks with a 6-1, 6-3 win on court three, but a 6-2, 6-2 setback for Johnson made it 3-1. Dao, playing at the top flight, prevailed in the opening set of her match with a 7-4 win in the tiebreaker, winning the second frame 6-2 to move the Privateers to 3-1 in league play.

Stephen F. Austin added another victory after the fourth Privateers point on court six, as Rashad lost a pair of competitive sets 7-5, 7-6. Gilhespie was the last match to finish, winning her opening set 7-6 but losing the second 4-6. In the final set, played in a pro-style, the freshman prevailed 10-7.

"Our top-four did an excellent job in singles," Kanga said. "Dao fought back from a slow start in her opening set to win in straight sets, while Segarra looked spectacular on the court today. Claudette continues to fight hard in her matches and finds ways to win."

"We have a home-heavy schedule this season, and we need to capitalize on it," Kanga concluded. "We have another tough match tomorrow and then hit the road. If we can enter the road match with back-to-back conference wins we should be in good shape."

UNO's homestand concludes with Northwestern State on Sunday, Mar. 19. Following the conference match, the Privateers take on Abilene Christian on Saturday, Mar. 25.
 
New Orleans 5, Stephen F. Austin 2
 
Singles competition
1. Trang Dao (UNO) def. Maxl, Denise (SFA) 7-6 (7-4), 6-2
2. Anja Luethi (UNO) def. Pardo, Vanesa (SFA) 4-6, 2-0, retired
3. Anna Segarra Rius (UNO) def. Tiboldi, Darinka (SFA) 6-1, 6-3
4. Claudette Gilhespie (UNO) def. Guilarte, Gabi (SFA) 7-6, 4-6, 10-7
5. Aginskaya, Liza (SFA) def. Brittany Johnson (UNO) 6-2, 6-2
6. Ljubic, Kaja (SFA) def. Yasmine Rashad (UNO) 7-5, 7-6 (7-4)
 
Doubles competition
1. Anja Luethi/Anna Segarra Rius (UNO) def. Maxl, Denise/Guilarte, Gabi (SFA) 6-2
2. Trang Dao/Yasmine Rashad (UNO) def. Tiboldi, Darinka/Payne, Sian (SFA) 6-2
3. Aginskaya, Liza/Ljubic, Kaja (SFA) def. Brittany Johnson/Claudette Gilhespie (UNO) 6-2