Feb. 11, 2006
TEMPE, Ariz. - The No. 16 Arizona State's women's tennis team remains undefeated as they beat No. 43 Denver (3-3) 7-0 Saturday in a dual match at Whiteman Center in Tempe, Ariz. The Sun Devils are now 5-0 for the first time since 2003 and are 3-0 against top 50 ranked teams.
The Sun Devils started the meet off by continuing their doubles dominance as they again swept all three matches. The No. 27 ranked team of Kady Pooler and Roxanne Clarke easily defeated Suzana Maksovic and Kyla Iwinski 8-2 at the number one spot. At the number three spot, the No. 34 doubles duo of Sabrina Capannolo and Rebecca Rankin dominated their match against Marisa Mechem and Lorinda Boothman, winning 8-0 to secure the doubles point. Playing in the number three spot, Wendy Pilecka and Jessica Leitch fought off Rachel Sackmaster and Annette Aksdal to win their match, 8-5. The Sun Devils have won nine straight doubles matches.
The Sun Devils continued to fight hard into the singles matches. Playing at the number spot, Capannolo fought past a touch second set to secure her win 6-2, 6-4 against Denver's Maksovic.
In the most exciting match of the day, Pooler defeated Aksdal 7-5, 1-6, 7-6 (3) at the number two spot. In her first set, she came back from being down 2-3 and battled her way to win 7-5. After dropping her second set 1-6, Pooler fought back to win the tiebreaker 7-6 (3) after being down 1-4.
Clarke overcame a hard fought second set loss to defeat Sackmaster 6-3, 5-7, 6-2 in the number three spot. Battling through three sets also, Rankin defeated Inwinksi 6-2, 3-6, 6-3.
Playing at the number five spot, Pilecka handily defeated Mechem 6-1, 6-2. Laila Abdala broadened her winning streak to eight as she beat Boothman 6-1, 7-5. By overcoming a tough second set, she has won 16 of her last 17 sets. The Sun Devils are 28-2 in singles dual matches this season.
The Sun Devils continue their homestead on Sunday, February 11 against the Cal Poly Mustangs. The doubles matches begin at 10 a.m. at the Whiteman Center in Tempe, Ariz.
Doubles:
Kady Pooler/Roxanne Clarke (ASU) def. Suzana Maksovic/ Kyla Iwinski (DEN) 8-2
Wendy Plecka/Jessica Leitch (ASU) def. Rachel Sackmaster/Annette Aksdal (DEN) 8-5
Sabrina Capannolo/Rebecca Rankin (ASU) def. Marisa Mechem/Lorinda Boothman (DEN) 8-0
Singles:
Sabrina Capannolo (ASU) def. Suzana Maksovic (DEN) 6-2, 6-4
Kady Pooler (ASU) def. Annette Aksdal (DEN) 7-5, 1-6, 7-6 (3)
Roxanne Clarke (ASU) def. Rachel Sackmaster (DEN) 6-3, 5-7, 6-2
Rebecca Rankin (ASU) def. Kyla Iwinski (DEN) 6-2, 3-6, 6-3
Wendy Pilecka (ASU) def. Marisa Mechem (DEN) 6-1, 6-2
Laila Abdala (ASU) def. Lorinda Boothman (DEN) 6-1, 7-5