TEMPE – The Sun Devil women's tennis team got back to winning ways when it defeated Cal State Fullerton, 6-1, Friday at the Whiteman Tennis Center.
The Sun Devils (4-2) had already clinched the match with a 4-1 scoreline, but agreed to play out the remaining courts with the Titans (1-1) before match play began. The decision gave ASU two more singles wins from Savannah Slaysman and Sammi Hampton after Tereza Kolarova clinched the team win to bring the final score to 6-1.
"I think we needed to play it out," coach Sheila McInerney said. "It was a beautiful day, we're not sure what the weather will allow on Sunday and we need to get in as much time on the court as we can."
In her season debut, Hampton's court five match was the longest of the day. The junior won the first set 6-3, narrowly dropped the second 7-6 and won the match in a 10-8 tiebreak. Hampton's dramatic season-opener was her first spring appearance since 2017. She missed all of last season with a knee injury and was left out of the lineup at the start of the 2019 campaign due to a wrist injury.
"She was a little tired at the end there, but that's expected with it being her first match in quite a while," McInerney said. "It'll help her down the road because you have to know how to close out matches."
During doubles play, the Devils were without All-American duo Lauryn John-Baptiste and Ilze Hattingh on court one with the former sitting out of the lineup. Hattingh still took to court one, but this time with Kolarova.
Alicea/Slaysman set up on court two and McInerney sent Hampton/Fisch to court three. Both duos handled their Titan opponents with ASU winning 6-1 on court three and 6-3 on court two to take a 1-0 advantage heading into singles play.
Hattingh was the first Devil off the court as she claimed a win on court one, 6-3, 6-1. True freshman Samantha Alicea followed suit with a 6-2, 6-2 win on court four.
The Titans got one back on court six to make the dual match score 3-1, but Kolarova outlasted Sarah Nuno on court two to clinch the Devils fourth win of the season.
"The top-four played really well today and got off the court quickly," McInerney said. "I think that took a lot of pressure off of Sammi. She just got the cast off Tuesday, so not having the stress of it coming down to the wire can only help a situation like that."
Slaysman would go on to win 6-4, 6-4 on court three.
The Sun Devil women will take Saturday off while the men host Pepperdine, but will be back in action Sunday for a doubleheader against Memphis at 10 a.m. and New Mexico State at 2 p.m.
The Sun Devils (4-2) had already clinched the match with a 4-1 scoreline, but agreed to play out the remaining courts with the Titans (1-1) before match play began. The decision gave ASU two more singles wins from Savannah Slaysman and Sammi Hampton after Tereza Kolarova clinched the team win to bring the final score to 6-1.
"I think we needed to play it out," coach Sheila McInerney said. "It was a beautiful day, we're not sure what the weather will allow on Sunday and we need to get in as much time on the court as we can."
In her season debut, Hampton's court five match was the longest of the day. The junior won the first set 6-3, narrowly dropped the second 7-6 and won the match in a 10-8 tiebreak. Hampton's dramatic season-opener was her first spring appearance since 2017. She missed all of last season with a knee injury and was left out of the lineup at the start of the 2019 campaign due to a wrist injury.
"She was a little tired at the end there, but that's expected with it being her first match in quite a while," McInerney said. "It'll help her down the road because you have to know how to close out matches."
During doubles play, the Devils were without All-American duo Lauryn John-Baptiste and Ilze Hattingh on court one with the former sitting out of the lineup. Hattingh still took to court one, but this time with Kolarova.
Alicea/Slaysman set up on court two and McInerney sent Hampton/Fisch to court three. Both duos handled their Titan opponents with ASU winning 6-1 on court three and 6-3 on court two to take a 1-0 advantage heading into singles play.
Hattingh was the first Devil off the court as she claimed a win on court one, 6-3, 6-1. True freshman Samantha Alicea followed suit with a 6-2, 6-2 win on court four.
The Titans got one back on court six to make the dual match score 3-1, but Kolarova outlasted Sarah Nuno on court two to clinch the Devils fourth win of the season.
"The top-four played really well today and got off the court quickly," McInerney said. "I think that took a lot of pressure off of Sammi. She just got the cast off Tuesday, so not having the stress of it coming down to the wire can only help a situation like that."
Slaysman would go on to win 6-4, 6-4 on court three.
The Sun Devil women will take Saturday off while the men host Pepperdine, but will be back in action Sunday for a doubleheader against Memphis at 10 a.m. and New Mexico State at 2 p.m.