ANN ARBOR, Mich. – The Sun Devil women's tennis team wrapped up the first day of the Michigan Invitational with a couple of doubles wins, including one over a duo ranked in the top-25, Saturday in Ann Arbor.
It was No. 24 Arizona State's first competition since the fall, and the Devils picked up right where they left off with two impressive wins in doubles play against women of Texas Tech.
"We faced some tough competition in both singles and doubles today, which is exactly what we came here for," head coach Sheila McInerney said. "I thought we rebounded from a slow start on all three courts in doubles and finished strong, winning two of the three matches."
The top-clash of the day came when the 28th-ranked duo of Savannah Slaysman and Tereza Kolarova came up against No. 21 Dvorak/Federici of Texas Tech. It was Slaysman and Kolarova's second run in with the Red Raider tandem, as they handled them a 6-1 loss in the fall, and the Sun Devils prevailed again, defeating the coupling, 6-4.
South Africa international Ilze Hattingh earned a win in her Sun Devil debut Saturday, as she and senior Nicole Fossa Huergo defeated Maltby/Talaba of Texas Tech, 7-5. It was the ASU duo's first pairing, as Fossa Huergo's normal doubles partner of Kelley Anderson is unavailable for the weekend.
The final pairing of Lauryn John-Baptiste and Sasa Klanecek fell 6-2 to Rush/Valenstein, but John-Baptiste came back to score a singles win later in the day.
In singles play, ASU had a tough matchup against the hosts, No. 10 Michigan. John-Baptiste's comeback victory over Mira Ruder-Hook was the only win for the Sun Devils on the day against the Wolverines.
"Singles was a bit of a struggle, as Michigan is super tough one through six," McInerney said. "We had some very good, competitive matches. It was nice for Lauryn to get a win, and I thought Tereza played well, despite not coming away with a W on the third set."
The freshman Devil dropped the first set 4-6, but regrouped and took a back-and-forth second set 7-6(6) before closing the door on Ruder-Hook with a 6-2 third set.
No. 83 Slaysman dropped a three-set match, 6-1, 4-6, 6-1, and Fossa Huergo and Hattingh both fell to opponents ranked in the ITA top-125.
Sunday, the Sun Devils get back on the court at 8 a.m. for a singles battle against Texas Tech. They return to the courts later in the day for a round of doubles against the Yellow Jackets of Georgia Tech.
Michigan Invitational Day One Results
Arizona State vs. Michigan (Singles)
Lera Patiuk (U-M) d. No. 83 Savannah Slaysman, 6-1, 4-6, 6-1
No. 74 Chiara Lommer (U-M) Nicole Fossa Huergo, 6-1, 6-3
No. 33 Kate Fahey (U-M) Ilze Hattingh, 6-1, 6-2
Lauryn John-Baptiste d. Mira Ruder-Hook (U-M), 4-6, 7-6 (6), 6-2
Alyvia Jones (U-M) d. Tereza Kolarova, 7-5, 6-7 (7), 6-4
Bella Lorenzini (U-M) d. Sasa Klanecek, 7-5, 6-3
Arizona State vs. Texas Tech (Doubles)
Nicole Fossa Huergo/Ilze Hattingh d. Felicity Maltby/Gabriela Talaba (Texas Tech), 7-5
No. 28 Savannah Slaysman/Tereza Kolarova d. No. 21 Sarah Dvorak/ Sabrina Federici (Texas Tech), 6-4
Lana Rush/ Alex Valenstein (Texas Tech) d. Lauryn John-Baptiste/Sasa Klanecek, 6-1
It was No. 24 Arizona State's first competition since the fall, and the Devils picked up right where they left off with two impressive wins in doubles play against women of Texas Tech.
"We faced some tough competition in both singles and doubles today, which is exactly what we came here for," head coach Sheila McInerney said. "I thought we rebounded from a slow start on all three courts in doubles and finished strong, winning two of the three matches."
The top-clash of the day came when the 28th-ranked duo of Savannah Slaysman and Tereza Kolarova came up against No. 21 Dvorak/Federici of Texas Tech. It was Slaysman and Kolarova's second run in with the Red Raider tandem, as they handled them a 6-1 loss in the fall, and the Sun Devils prevailed again, defeating the coupling, 6-4.
South Africa international Ilze Hattingh earned a win in her Sun Devil debut Saturday, as she and senior Nicole Fossa Huergo defeated Maltby/Talaba of Texas Tech, 7-5. It was the ASU duo's first pairing, as Fossa Huergo's normal doubles partner of Kelley Anderson is unavailable for the weekend.
The final pairing of Lauryn John-Baptiste and Sasa Klanecek fell 6-2 to Rush/Valenstein, but John-Baptiste came back to score a singles win later in the day.
In singles play, ASU had a tough matchup against the hosts, No. 10 Michigan. John-Baptiste's comeback victory over Mira Ruder-Hook was the only win for the Sun Devils on the day against the Wolverines.
"Singles was a bit of a struggle, as Michigan is super tough one through six," McInerney said. "We had some very good, competitive matches. It was nice for Lauryn to get a win, and I thought Tereza played well, despite not coming away with a W on the third set."
The freshman Devil dropped the first set 4-6, but regrouped and took a back-and-forth second set 7-6(6) before closing the door on Ruder-Hook with a 6-2 third set.
No. 83 Slaysman dropped a three-set match, 6-1, 4-6, 6-1, and Fossa Huergo and Hattingh both fell to opponents ranked in the ITA top-125.
Sunday, the Sun Devils get back on the court at 8 a.m. for a singles battle against Texas Tech. They return to the courts later in the day for a round of doubles against the Yellow Jackets of Georgia Tech.
Michigan Invitational Day One Results
Arizona State vs. Michigan (Singles)
Lera Patiuk (U-M) d. No. 83 Savannah Slaysman, 6-1, 4-6, 6-1
No. 74 Chiara Lommer (U-M) Nicole Fossa Huergo, 6-1, 6-3
No. 33 Kate Fahey (U-M) Ilze Hattingh, 6-1, 6-2
Lauryn John-Baptiste d. Mira Ruder-Hook (U-M), 4-6, 7-6 (6), 6-2
Alyvia Jones (U-M) d. Tereza Kolarova, 7-5, 6-7 (7), 6-4
Bella Lorenzini (U-M) d. Sasa Klanecek, 7-5, 6-3
Arizona State vs. Texas Tech (Doubles)
Nicole Fossa Huergo/Ilze Hattingh d. Felicity Maltby/Gabriela Talaba (Texas Tech), 7-5
No. 28 Savannah Slaysman/Tereza Kolarova d. No. 21 Sarah Dvorak/ Sabrina Federici (Texas Tech), 6-4
Lana Rush/ Alex Valenstein (Texas Tech) d. Lauryn John-Baptiste/Sasa Klanecek, 6-1