Alabama
UT Chattanooga
Women's Tennis Sweeps Chattanooga 7-0
1/25/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
Jan. 25, 2009
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The women's tennis team (1-0) opened up its 2009 spring season with an impressive win sweeping UT-Chattanooga (2-1) 7-0 Sunday afternoon. In addition, the Crimson Tide did not allow a single point to the Lady Mocs in four of the nine matches played.
"This was a good start to the season," said head coach Jenny Mainz. "It was the first dual match, and first home match for us. We came out ready to play and jumped on them early. I thought we needed to play authoritatively, and we did that. We were strictly business today. The season is a process, but the beginning is very important."
Alabama got off to a quick start by taking control of all three doubles matches early. Led by a very decisive 8-0 victory by freshmen Courtney McLane and Taylor Lindsey at the No. 2 spot, the Tide only dropped a combined five games to take the doubles point. At the No. 3 spot, the team of sohphomore Merritt Emery and junior Alice Tunaru easily took the win 8-2. Junior Paulina Bigos and sophomore Tiffany Welcher had a little trouble closing out their doubles match at the No. 1 position, but still managed to post an commanding 8-3 victory.
The Tide carried over the momentum from winning the doubles point into singles action. Alabama lost a total of seven games in the six singles matches. Welcher, McLane, and Bigos, at the No. 1, 2, and 3 positions respectively, all won their matches without dropping a game, 6-0, 6-0. Emery, playing at the No. 4 singles spot, also won her first set 6-0. She faced a little more resistance in the second set, but came out on top 6-3. At the No. 5 position, the lone senior for the Tide, Shelley Godwin, found herself involved in several long rallies. She was able to remain the more consistent player through most of them, winning 6-1, 6-2. Lindsey, finishing just seconds before Godwin, collected her first win in a dual match for the Tide, defeating Annie Green 6-0, 6-1.
Next up, the Tide continues its seven match home stand Jan. 30 against Tulane at 4:00 p.m. (CST).
Alabama 7, UT-Chattanooga 0
Doubles
1. Paulina Bigos/Tiffany Welcher (UA) def. Shaina Singh/Emily Hangstefer (UTC) 8-3
2. Courtney McLane/Taylor Lindsey (UA) def. Beata Knizat/J. van der Veek (UTC) 8-0
3. Meritt Emery/Alice Tunaru (UA) def. Brianna Wishing/Annie Green (UTC) 8-2
Order of Finish: 2,3,1
Singles
1. No. 72 Tiffany Welcher (UA) def. Shaina Singh (UTC) 6-0, 6-0
2. Courtney McLane (UA) def. Emily Hangstefer (UTC) 6-0, 6-0
3. Paulina Bigos (UA) def. Charlotte Bossy (UTC) 6-0, 6-0
4. Meritt Emery (UA) def. J. van der Veek (UTC) 6-0, 6-3
5. Shelley Godwin (UA) def. Beata Knizat (UTC) 6-1, 6-2
6. Taylor Lindsey (UA) def. Annie Green (UTC) 6-0, 6-1
Order of finish: 1,3,2,4,6,5
Players Mentioned
