TUCSON – The Sun Devil women's tennis team secured an important Territorial Cup Series point with a 4-2 victory over in-state Rival Arizona Saturday in Tucson.
"It's always nice to end the season with a road win over your rival," coach Sheila McInerney said. "We knew it would be a battle, and it certainly was."
The charge to victory got started with a dominating doubles performance on all three courts that saw the Devils make quick world of the three U of A tandems with Fossa Huergo/Klanecek sweeping on court three and No. 17 John-Baptiste/Hattingh winning 6-1 on court one. Slaysman/Kolarova were up 5-2 before the point was clinched on court one.
After taking a quick 2-0 lead in the dual-match thanks to No. 53 Lauryn John-Baptiste's 6-1, 6-2 win on court one, the Sun Devils found themselves in a dogfight with the Wildcats as four of the remaining five matches would reach three sets.
"We came out playing great in doubles, and the singles was really a fight," McInerney said.
Arizona then won two-straight, taking matches on courts three and four to make it 2-2 with three matches to go.
After dropping the first set 6-2, true freshman Sasa Klanecek stormed back to win the second set 6-2 to force a third. In the third set, Klanecek blanked her opponent on court five to put the Devils back up 3-2.
A few minutes later on court six, Tereza Kolarova held on and defeated Sophia Thomas 6-4, 5-7, 6-1 to seal the match for ASU and put the Devils up in the Territorial Cup Series after the Sun Devil men's tennis team trounced the Cats 4-0 Saturday afternoon in Tempe.
"It was great to see our three freshmen pick up singles wins to clinch the match for us," McInerney said. "This one was one of those matches that will indoctrinate them quickly into the rivalry."
While the win gives ASU the crucial point, it also secures the squad a third-place finish in the conference standings and a bye into the quarterfinal round of the Pac-12 tournament slated to start this Wednesday in Ojai, California.
"I'm proud of this team," McInerney said. "To be able to finish third in the Pac-12 for just the second time in ASU history is huge and I'm excited for the Pac-12 and the postseason."
The official draw of the Pac-12 tournament will be released Monday.
#32 Arizona State 4
Arizona 2
Singles competition
1. #53 Lauryn John-Baptiste (ASU) def. Devin Chypyha (ARIZ) 6-1, 6-2
2. Paris Corley (ARIZ) vs. Ilze Hattingh (ASU) 3-6, 7-6 (7-5), 1-3, unfinished
3. Mary Lewis (ARIZ) def. Nicole Fossa Huergo (ASU) 7-5, 6-4
4. Camila Wesbrooks (ARIZ) def. Savannah Slaysman (ASU) 3-6, 7-5, 6-1
5. Sasa Klanecek (ASU) def. Marie Van Aelst (ARIZ) 2-6, 6-2, 6-0
6. Tereza Kolarova (ASU) def. Sophia Thomas (ARIZ) 6-4, 5-7, 6-1
Doubles competition
1. #17 Lauryn John-Baptiste/Ilze Hattingh (ASU) def. Devin Chypyha/Camila Wesbrooks (ARIZ) 6-1
2. Marie Van Aelst/Paris Corley (ARIZ) vs. #51 Savannah Slaysman/Tereza Kolarova (ASU) 2-5, unfinished
3. Nicole Fossa Huergo/Sasa Klanecek (ASU) def. Mary Lewis/Talya Zandberg (ARIZ) 6-0
Match Notes:
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1); Singles (1,3,4,5,6)
"It's always nice to end the season with a road win over your rival," coach Sheila McInerney said. "We knew it would be a battle, and it certainly was."
The charge to victory got started with a dominating doubles performance on all three courts that saw the Devils make quick world of the three U of A tandems with Fossa Huergo/Klanecek sweeping on court three and No. 17 John-Baptiste/Hattingh winning 6-1 on court one. Slaysman/Kolarova were up 5-2 before the point was clinched on court one.
After taking a quick 2-0 lead in the dual-match thanks to No. 53 Lauryn John-Baptiste's 6-1, 6-2 win on court one, the Sun Devils found themselves in a dogfight with the Wildcats as four of the remaining five matches would reach three sets.
"We came out playing great in doubles, and the singles was really a fight," McInerney said.
Arizona then won two-straight, taking matches on courts three and four to make it 2-2 with three matches to go.
After dropping the first set 6-2, true freshman Sasa Klanecek stormed back to win the second set 6-2 to force a third. In the third set, Klanecek blanked her opponent on court five to put the Devils back up 3-2.
A few minutes later on court six, Tereza Kolarova held on and defeated Sophia Thomas 6-4, 5-7, 6-1 to seal the match for ASU and put the Devils up in the Territorial Cup Series after the Sun Devil men's tennis team trounced the Cats 4-0 Saturday afternoon in Tempe.
"It was great to see our three freshmen pick up singles wins to clinch the match for us," McInerney said. "This one was one of those matches that will indoctrinate them quickly into the rivalry."
While the win gives ASU the crucial point, it also secures the squad a third-place finish in the conference standings and a bye into the quarterfinal round of the Pac-12 tournament slated to start this Wednesday in Ojai, California.
"I'm proud of this team," McInerney said. "To be able to finish third in the Pac-12 for just the second time in ASU history is huge and I'm excited for the Pac-12 and the postseason."
The official draw of the Pac-12 tournament will be released Monday.
#32 Arizona State 4
Arizona 2
Singles competition
1. #53 Lauryn John-Baptiste (ASU) def. Devin Chypyha (ARIZ) 6-1, 6-2
2. Paris Corley (ARIZ) vs. Ilze Hattingh (ASU) 3-6, 7-6 (7-5), 1-3, unfinished
3. Mary Lewis (ARIZ) def. Nicole Fossa Huergo (ASU) 7-5, 6-4
4. Camila Wesbrooks (ARIZ) def. Savannah Slaysman (ASU) 3-6, 7-5, 6-1
5. Sasa Klanecek (ASU) def. Marie Van Aelst (ARIZ) 2-6, 6-2, 6-0
6. Tereza Kolarova (ASU) def. Sophia Thomas (ARIZ) 6-4, 5-7, 6-1
Doubles competition
1. #17 Lauryn John-Baptiste/Ilze Hattingh (ASU) def. Devin Chypyha/Camila Wesbrooks (ARIZ) 6-1
2. Marie Van Aelst/Paris Corley (ARIZ) vs. #51 Savannah Slaysman/Tereza Kolarova (ASU) 2-5, unfinished
3. Nicole Fossa Huergo/Sasa Klanecek (ASU) def. Mary Lewis/Talya Zandberg (ARIZ) 6-0
Match Notes:
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1); Singles (1,3,4,5,6)