TEMPE – The No. 20 Sun Devil women's tennis team made history Saturday at the Whiteman Tennis Center as Arizona State's (5-1, 0-0 Pac-12) sweep of Santa Clara was head coach Sheila McInerney's 500th career win in her 34-year tenure.
"I've been here a long time, Arizona State has treated me very well and I just hope I have reciprocated that," McInerney said. "There were players here, Ray Anderson and his wife Buffie were here, Don Bocchi who has been my administrator for years was here for this, so it means a lot."
McInerney is the sixth coach in ASU history to eclipse the 500-win mark, and is the sixth-winningest coach in Sun Devil history across all sports.
"I love tennis," McInerney said. "You wear shorts and a t-shirt to practice, you do this for a living and you realize it's not really work. I think it's important to have passion and really enjoy what you do because I think it rubs off on the student-athletes. Days like today when you have a lot of former players back and the fans out, it's a great thing. It's why you're in college; for the relationships."
The win was ASU's second-straight sweep as they topped the Gonzaga Bulldogs two weeks ago in Tempe.
Although McInerney shifted the doubles duos for the first time this season, the result was still the same as ASU took the doubles point for the sixth consecutive dual match.
Court one had a different look with Tereza Kolarova taking the court with senior Nicole Fossa Huergo for the first time. Savannah Slaysman teamed up with Sasa Klanecek on court three, and No. 53 John-Baptiste/Hattingh took to court two.
Klanecek/Slaysman took the match over El Tawil/Ong, 6-1, and the 53rd-ranked tandem handled Tabachnik/Gevargiz, 6-4, before the match on court one could end.
In singles play, ASU dominated the Broncos, winning all six of the first sets. Three Devils went on to win in straight sets, including Klanecek on court six, Slaysman on court four and John-Baptiste on court one.
The true freshman Klanecek won on court six to put the Devils up 2-0. Klanecek defeated Delaney Nothaft 6-1, 6-2 for her sixth-straight win in dual match play. The Slovenian international has been dominant in 2018, having won seven matches since the new year in straight sets after dropping her first two.
"I'm just happy to get the match win," McInerney said. "One match at a time. Santa Clara is a good team and Ben's done a good job with them. We knew it would be a tough match, and it was, so I think getting the W was most important thing today."
No. 110 Slaysman also continued her win-streak, out-dueling Katya Tabachnik on court four.
The historic deciding point was won by freshman international John-Baptiste on court one. Not only was it the match-clinching point, but it was also the London, England-native's first win on court one after the other two were suspended against UNLV and Gonzaga. She moves to 3-1 in dual match play and 10-3 overall – the second-best record on the team this year behind Klanecek.
Fossa Huergo was on the cusp of victory on court three just before John-Baptiste finished her match.
"For me, this is my last semester here," Fossa Huergo said. "This year started unlucky when we lost Kelley and Sammi, but we've really become closer as a team and it's great to be able to be a part of something so special like today was."
With the completion of the festivities Saturday, the Sun Devils turn their attention toward a road trip out east to take on Kentucky and No. 19 Ohio State in Lexington and Columbus, respectively.
Arizona State – 4 vs. Santa Clara – 0 | Feb. 17, 2018 | Whiteman Tennis Center
Doubles Finishes:
Order of Finish: 3, 2
Singles Finishes:
Order of Finish: 6, 4, 1
"I've been here a long time, Arizona State has treated me very well and I just hope I have reciprocated that," McInerney said. "There were players here, Ray Anderson and his wife Buffie were here, Don Bocchi who has been my administrator for years was here for this, so it means a lot."
McInerney is the sixth coach in ASU history to eclipse the 500-win mark, and is the sixth-winningest coach in Sun Devil history across all sports.
"I love tennis," McInerney said. "You wear shorts and a t-shirt to practice, you do this for a living and you realize it's not really work. I think it's important to have passion and really enjoy what you do because I think it rubs off on the student-athletes. Days like today when you have a lot of former players back and the fans out, it's a great thing. It's why you're in college; for the relationships."
Take it all in, @asu10s_coachmac. pic.twitter.com/Ggir9FRtAO
— Sun Devil W. Tennis (@sundevilwtennis) February 17, 2018
The win was ASU's second-straight sweep as they topped the Gonzaga Bulldogs two weeks ago in Tempe.
Although McInerney shifted the doubles duos for the first time this season, the result was still the same as ASU took the doubles point for the sixth consecutive dual match.
Court one had a different look with Tereza Kolarova taking the court with senior Nicole Fossa Huergo for the first time. Savannah Slaysman teamed up with Sasa Klanecek on court three, and No. 53 John-Baptiste/Hattingh took to court two.
Klanecek/Slaysman took the match over El Tawil/Ong, 6-1, and the 53rd-ranked tandem handled Tabachnik/Gevargiz, 6-4, before the match on court one could end.
In singles play, ASU dominated the Broncos, winning all six of the first sets. Three Devils went on to win in straight sets, including Klanecek on court six, Slaysman on court four and John-Baptiste on court one.
The true freshman Klanecek won on court six to put the Devils up 2-0. Klanecek defeated Delaney Nothaft 6-1, 6-2 for her sixth-straight win in dual match play. The Slovenian international has been dominant in 2018, having won seven matches since the new year in straight sets after dropping her first two.
"I'm just happy to get the match win," McInerney said. "One match at a time. Santa Clara is a good team and Ben's done a good job with them. We knew it would be a tough match, and it was, so I think getting the W was most important thing today."
Coaching legends deserve a good ice bath every once in a while ?? pic.twitter.com/QviZn5TdNJ
— Sun Devil W. Tennis (@sundevilwtennis) February 17, 2018
No. 110 Slaysman also continued her win-streak, out-dueling Katya Tabachnik on court four.
The historic deciding point was won by freshman international John-Baptiste on court one. Not only was it the match-clinching point, but it was also the London, England-native's first win on court one after the other two were suspended against UNLV and Gonzaga. She moves to 3-1 in dual match play and 10-3 overall – the second-best record on the team this year behind Klanecek.
Fossa Huergo was on the cusp of victory on court three just before John-Baptiste finished her match.
"For me, this is my last semester here," Fossa Huergo said. "This year started unlucky when we lost Kelley and Sammi, but we've really become closer as a team and it's great to be able to be a part of something so special like today was."
With the completion of the festivities Saturday, the Sun Devils turn their attention toward a road trip out east to take on Kentucky and No. 19 Ohio State in Lexington and Columbus, respectively.
Arizona State – 4 vs. Santa Clara – 0 | Feb. 17, 2018 | Whiteman Tennis Center
Doubles Finishes:
- Kolarova/Fossa Huergo (ASU) vs. Pothoff/Clarke (SC) 5-6 susp.
- John-Baptiste/Hattingh (ASU) def. Tabachnik/Gevargiz (SC), 6-4
- Klanecek/Slaysman (ASU) def. El Tawil/Ong (SC), 6-1
Order of Finish: 3, 2
Singles Finishes:
- Lauryn John-Baptiste (ASU) def. Madison Clarke (SC), 7-5 6-2
- Ilze Hattingh (ASU) vs. Maddie Pothoff (SC) susp.
- Nicole Fossa Huergo (ASU) vs. Zeina El Tawil (SC) susp.
- Savannah Slaysman (ASU) def. Katya Tabachnik (SC), 6-1 6-4
- Tereza Kolarova (ASU) vs. Elvena Gevargiz (SC) susp.
- Sasa Klanecek (ASU) def. Delaney Nothaft (SC), 6-1 6-2
Order of Finish: 6, 4, 1