ORLANDO, Fl. – Back in the win column!
The Sun Devils (4-1) cruised past the UCSB Gauchos, 4-1, in the ITA Weekend Kickoff finale on Saturday morning at the USTA National Campus.
Sedona Gallagher sealed the Sun Devil victory with a win on Court 3 (3-6, 6-4, 6-1). The senior transfer showed great poise after stumbling out of the gate, rallying to play her best tennis in the remaining two sets.
With the win, the Sun Devils have now started the season 4-1 or better in four of the last five seasons. They'll depart Orlando having split the two matches they competed in, with the win over the Gauchos and a Friday afternoon 4-3 loss over No. 25 Auburn.
HOW IT HAPPENED
In all five matches this season, the Sun Devils have come out rocking in the early going, clinching the doubles point each time out. On Saturday, it was wins from Giulia Morlet & Marianna Argyrokastriti on Court 2 (6-1) and Sedona Gallagher & Cali Jankowski (6-3) on Court 3 that allowed ASU to jump out to a 1-0 lead.
Unlike yesterday, in a back-and-forth affair against the Tigers in which five of six singles matches trudged into a third set, the Sun Devils were relatively quick and efficient against the Gauchos.
Domenika Turkovic defeated Elizaveta Volodko (6-4, 6-2), Patricija Spaka outlasted Filippa Bruu-Syversen (7-6, 6-2) and Gallagher clinched it minutes later.
COACH'S CORNER
Sheila McInerney: "I was really happy with the way the team came out today and were ready to compete from the first point after experiencing a tough physical match yesterday. Both matches this weekend were super tough and competitive and we battled well in both matches.
"UCSB is a very good and well-coached team so we had to play well today to get the win today. Unfortunately, we didn't get the win yesterday, but these two matches will help us as we move forward this season."
SPECTACULAR SPAKA
The Sun Devils' highly-decorated freshman, Patricija Spaka, has been as advertised through her first five matches. She's a team-best 5-0 in singles play and, operating out of Court 1 alongside Domenika Turkovic, 2-0 in doubles.
Given the roster turnover from a season ago, Spaka's consistency is a terrific sign for Sheila McInerney's group in the early going of the 2022 season.
UP NEXT
Next on the docket for the Sun Devils is a trip to the Sooner State, when they'll spar with No. 17 Oklahoma on Saturday, February 12, in Norman.