April 9, 2010
On the road for the first time since early March, the No. 21 Arizona State women's tennis team dropped a tough conference match to No. 17 USC. The Sun Devils fell to 12-4, 4-2 Pac-10 after dropping 5-2 to USC.
"We didn't play as well as we could have today," said 26th year head coach Sheila McInerney. "I thought doubles went well but I was really disappointed in the top of the lineup in singles."
After being forced to switch up the doubles team due to a Nicole Smith injury, the Sun Devils came close to earning the doubles point. All-American doubles team Kelcy McKenna and Micaela Hein teamed up for the first time since the fall to take on No. 46 Danielle Lao and Maria Sanchez. Despite putting out a tough match, the duo fell 8-6 on Court One. Nadia Abdala and Michelle Brycki took on Valeria Pulido and Alison Ramos on Court Two. The two teams battled it out to a tie-breaker with the Sun Devils coming out on top 9-8 (3). The team of Ashlee Brown and Sianna Simmons suffered an 8-5 loss on Court Three.
"We played pretty well in doubles and we had a chance to win the doubles point," said 26th year head coach Sheila McInerney. "We had to switch up the teams and all three teams could have won today."
Sophomores Brycki and Simmons continued to be on a role as they each won their singles match. With her 6-3, 6-4 win over Sarah Fansler, Brycki improved to a flawless 12-0 dual match record. Simmons, who was the last one off the court, gutted out a 6-4, 6-4 victory over Lyndsay Kinstler.
"Michelle and Sianna continued their trend of playing well," said McInerney.
The rest of the matches did not go as well as the top of the lineup struggled. Hein fell 6-1, 6-3 to No. 2 Maria Sanchez while No. 80 McKenna took a 6-3, 6-1 loss to No. 26 Alison Ramos. Abdala suffered a 6-3, 6-2 setback against No. 30 Lao and Pulido defeated Hannah James on Court Four.
"Give all the credit to USC, they took it to us," said McInerney. "It's tough to play a good team on the road. Hopefully we can play better tomorrow at UCLA."
#17 USC 5, #21 Arizona State 2
April 9, 2010 - Marks Stadium
DOUBLES
(1) #46 Lao/Sanchez (USC) def. Abdala/Hein (ASU) - 8-6
(2) Brown/McKenna (ASU) def. Pulido/Ramos (USC) - 9-8 (3)
(3) Fansler/Kinstler (USC) def. Brycki/Smith (ASU) - 8-5
USC wins doubles point.
Order of finish: 3, 1, 2
SINGLES
(1) #2 Maria Sanchez (USC) def. Micaela Hein (ASU) - 6-1, 6-3*
(2) #26 Alison Ramos (USC) def. #80 Kelcy McKenna (ASU) - 6-3, 6-1
(3) #30 Danielle Lao (USC) def. Nadia Abdala (ASU) - 6-3, 6-2
(4) #103 Valeria Pulido (USC) def. Hannah James (ASU) - 6-4, 6-3
(5) Michelle Brycki (ASU) def. Sarah Fansler (USC) - 6-3, 6-4
(6) Sianna Simmons (ASU) def. Lyndsay Kinstler (USC) - 6-4, 6-4
Order of finish: 3, 5, 2, 1*, 4, 6