By Jake Hernandez, SDA Media Relations
TEMPE, Ariz. – The No. 19 Arizona State women’s tennis team swept No. 53 San Jose State, 7-0, this afternoon at Whiteman Tennis Center to improve their record to 11-3 (2-0) on the season.
“I am happy with our performance today. San Jose State is a good team and the match was tough,” said ASU head coach Sheila McInerney. “The doubles could have gone either way but Joanna and Leighann really came through at the end.”
During doubles, the Sun Devils earned the early advantage in close double matches. Juniors Desirae Krawczyk and Stephanie Vlad downed their opponent, 6-2, while San Jose State’s pair Cubukcu and Guavain defeated Arizona State’s pair Panoho and Osborne, 6-4, to even doubles. The final doubles match came down to junior Leighann Sahagun and senior Joanna Smith to earn the doubles point with a tiebreaker. The Sun Devil pair downed their opponent, 7-5, to earn ASU the 1-0 early advantage heading into singles.
“We came out strong in the singles and won four matches in straight sets, so that was helpful. I am proud of Leighann as we really needed her as she played like a champ,” said coach Sheila McInereny. “For her first competitive matches since November, she played extremely well. This will give our team confidence to have her back in the lineup in moving forward.”
During singes, Arizona State came out strong by earning the point in all matches. Four Sun Devils earned the point in straight sets, including Krawcyzk, who continues to show dominance during the season by defeating her opponent, 6-2, 6-4. Back from injury, senior Leighann Sahagun downed her opponent, 7-5, 6-2. Sophomore Gussie O’Sullivan also showed resilience as she was faced to play a 19-point tiebreaker to defeat her opponent, 6-3, 4-6, 1-0 (19-17).
Next up, the Sun Devils will travel to Pullman, Wash. to take on Washington State on Sunday, Mar. 22 at 11 a.m. PT/Noon MT.
Next weekend, the Sun Devils will be back in Tempe to continue Pac-12 play against No. 10 Stanford on Friday, Mar. 27 at 1:30 p.m. MT and No. 3 California on Saturday, Mar. 28 at Noon MT.
#19 Arizona State 7, #53 San Jose State 0
Singles
1. Desirae Krawczyk (ASU) def. Sybille Gauvain (SJSU), 6-2, 6-4
2. Stephanie Vlad (ASU) def. Marie Klocker (SJSU), 6-4, 4-6, 1-0 (10-5)
3. Joanna Smith (ASU) def. Gaelle Rey (SJSU), 7-5, 6-1
4. Leighann Sahagun (ASU) def. Julianna Bacelar (SJSU), 7-5, 6-2
5. Ebony Panoho (ASU) def. Malin Cubukcu (SJSU), 7-5, 6-4
6. Gussie O’Sullivan (ASU) def. Abbie Pahz (SJSU), 6-3, 4-6, 1-0 (19-17)
Order of finish: 1, 3, 4, 5, 2, 6
Doubles
1. Krawczyk/Vlad (ASU) def. Rey/Klocker (SJSU), 6-2
2. Cubukcu/Guavain (SJSU) def. Panoho/Osborne (ASU), 6-4
3. Sahagun/Smith (ASU) def. Bacela/Pahz (SJSU), 7-5
Order of finish: 1, 2, 3