Alabama
Day Two
Women's Tennis Earns Five Wins Saturday at Southern Regionals
10/24/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
Oct. 24, 2009
AUBURN, Ala. - The women's tennis team picked up five more wins Saturday at the 2009 Wilson/ITA Southern Regional Championships with one victory coming in doubles and the other four in singles.
"Today was a test for us," said head coach Jenny Mainz. "We battled hard today, and I'm proud of the team for their effort. I thought we came out ready to play the doubles early and competed well."
The day began with doubles where the 43rd-ranked duo of sophomore Courtney McLane and freshman Alexa Guarachi earned an 8-2 victory over Troy junior Leonie Guijt and freshman Karoline Grymel to advance to the semifinals on Sunday. Also representing the Crimson Tide in doubles was senior Paulina Bigos and sophomore Taylor Lindsey, who lost a close 8-6 match to Mississippi senior Soledad Podlipnik and sophomore Abigail Guthrie.
"Courtney and Alexa are playing commanding doubles," explained Mainz. "Taylor and Paulina struggled with execution but had their chances. They were up 5-3 serving and had many chances to go up 6-3 but were unable to take advantage of this lead. Podlipnik and Guthrie stepped up and gained the momentum while executing the fundamentals well, especially on the big points."
In singles, three of five Alabama netters picked up wins in the Round of 32 including Bigos, Guarachi and McLane. Bigos, after winning her first set 6-4, suffered a 6-2 loss in the second. The Tide senior battled back to take the decisive third set by a score of 7-6 over South Alabama junior Parija Maloo. Guarachi and 61st-ranked McLane each won in straight sets with Guarachi grabbing a 6-4, 6-2 victory over Samford sophomore Madelie Janse Van Rensburg, while McLane defeated Tulane freshman Emma Levy 7-6(0), 6-2.
Lindsey and senior Alice Tunaru both faced off with top-25 opponents in the Round of 32 that resulted in a pair of losses for the Alabama duo. Lindsey was taken down by Auburn senior, and 10th-ranked, Fani Chifchieva 6-2, 6-4, and Tunaru, despite a hard-fought effort in the second, fell to No. 25 Kristi Boxx of Mississippi 6-3, 7-6(1).
In the Round of 16, only McLane survived, winning a 6-3, 6-3 decision over Auburn senior Myrthe Molenveld. Bigos, again, met up with Guthrie where the Rebel netter won 6-4, 7-5. Guarachi ended up falling to Mississippi junior Connor Vogel 6-2, 6-4.
"There are certainly some bright spots in today's performance but overall, we're too streaky," added Mainz. "We need to show up ready to work on the first ball tomorrow and be a strong third day team."
Action resumes Sunday at 9:00 a.m. (CST) with the semifinal round of doubles. Following will be two rounds of main draw singles along with consolation matches.
RESULTS
Doubles
Quarterfinals
Podlipnik/Guthrie (UM) def. Bigos/Lindsey (UA) 8-6
No. 43 McLane/Guarachi (UA) def. Grymel/Guijt (TROY) 8-2
Singles
Round of 32
No. 10 Fani Chifchieva (AU) def. Taylor Lindsey (UA) 6-2, 6-4
Paulina Bigos (UA) def. Parija Maloo (USA) 6-4, 2-6, 7-6
Alexa Guarachi (UA) def. Madelie Janse Van Rensburg (SAM) 6-4, 6-2
No. 61 Courtney McLane (UA) def. Emma Levy (TUL) 7-6(0), 6-2
No. 25 Kristi Boxx (UM) def. Alice Tunaru (UA) 6-3, 7-6(1)
Round of 16
Abigail Guthrie (UM) def. Paulina Bigos (UA) 6-4, 7-5
Connor Vogel (UM) def. Alexa Guarachi (UA) 6-2, 6-4
No. 61 Courtney McLane (UA) def. Molenveld (AU) 6-3, 6-3
Players Mentioned
