TEMPE - No. 20 ASU opened the 2021 season Monday with a perfect 7-0 sweep over cross-town opponent Grand Canyon at the Whiteman Tennis Center. The perfect day featured every match finishing in straight sets and newcomers Giulia Morlet, Marianna Argyrokastriti, and Domenika Turkovic all earning their first wins in Maroon and Gold. ASU is now a perfect 14-0 all-time against the Lopes and 5-0 in the last five season-openers.
"I think we played pretty well today," head coach Sheila McInerney said. "It's always nice to get your first dual match in. We haven't played competitively in almost 11 months so I think overall it was a good match and the team performed well. It was nice to see the two freshmen, Marianna and Giulia, do well. They were both off the courts quickly and had a lot of energy. On Saturday we play a very good LSU team so it was nice for them to learn what the collegiate dual meet format is all about."
How it happened
The Sun Devils made quick work of the Lopes, taking the doubles point thanks to 6-0 wins on courts two and three. Tereza Kolarova and Morlet combined at No. 2 to get ASU ahead, with Argyrokastriti and Sasa Klanecek clinching the match on No. 3. All-American Ilze Hattingh and Cali Jankowski played No. 1 to finish, winning 6-3.
Singles started off hot with Argyrokastriti blazing through her opponent at No. 3, winning 6-1, 6-0. Kolarova then mirrored her teammate, winning 6-0, 6-1 on court five, and ASU officially clinched the day with a 6-3, 6-2 victory from Jankowski on court six.
The Sun Devils celebrated Morlet topping Emilia Occhipinti at No. 2 (6-2, 6-1) followed by Hattingh taking Lopes No. 1 Natasha Puehse 6-2, 6-4. The day came to a close at No. 4 where Turkovic worked a 6-3 opening set victory over Autum Prudhomme before being taken to the wire in the next set, squeaking by with a 7-5 nailbiter.
Up Next
The Sun Devils have a few days off before they fly down to Austin, Texas for the ITA Kickoff Weekend Saturday and Sunday. ASU opens the two-day tournament against No. 24 LSU before playing the winner of No. 3 Texas/No.23 Baylor.
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Grand Canyon vs #20 Arizona State
Jan 18, 2021 at Tempe, AZ
#20 Arizona State 7 (1-0), Grand Canyon 0 (0-1)
Singles competition
1. Hattingh,Ilze (ASU) def. Natasha Puehse (GCU) 6-2, 6-4
2. Morlet,Giulia (ASU) def. Emilia Occhipinti (GCU) 6-2, 6-1
3. Argyrokastriti,M (ASU) def. Jana Weiss (GCU) 6-1, 6-0
4. Turkovic,Domenika (ASU) def. Autum Prudhomme (GCU) 6-3, 7-5
5. Kolarova,Tereza (ASU) def. Taylor Andersen (GCU) 6-0, 6-1
6. Jankowski,Cali (ASU) def. Aline Buhr (GCU) 6-3, 6-2
Order of Finish: 3, 5, 6, 2, 1, 4
Doubles competition
1. Hattingh,Ilze/Jankowski,Cali (ASU) def. Natasha Puehse/Jana Weiss (GCU) 6-3
2. Kolarova,Tereza/Morlet,Giulia (ASU) def. Emilia Occhipinti/Autum Prudhomme (GCU) 6-0
3. Argyrokastriti,M/Klanecek,Sasa (ASU) def. Taylor Andersen/Joely Lomas (GCU) 6-0
Order of Finish: 2, 3, 1
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