March 3, 2008

FRESNO, Calif. - The No. 15 women's tennis team worked hard for a 4-3 win over No. 31 TCU on Monday in Fort Worth, Texas. The Bulldogs came out strong winning the doubles point, than it was a see-saw match with the Frogs. Sophomore, Renata Kucerkova clinched the match for the Bulldogs winning in a third set tie-breaker.

"We came out very strong in doubles today with all three of our doubles teams winning their matches," head coach Simon Thibodeau said.

"It was great to finish the weekend with a win; we are looking forward to coming home to play some good matches."

No. 1-ranked Melanie Gloria and Tinesta Rowe continues to show that they deserve their ranking; they defeated No. 11-ranked Harkins and Sydorska, 8-4 to clinch the doubles point for the Bulldogs. Playing at the No. 2 spot, Anastasia Petukhova and Kucerkova beat Munch-Soegaard and Tuohimaa, 8-5.

Playing at the No. 3 spot for doubles, Vanessa Heroux and Jacqueline Haskett played strong defeated TCU's Nichols and Hertxberg, 8-4.

The first to win the singles matches was No. 20 Petukhova, she won early defeating Anna Sydorska 6-0, 6-2. The next to finish was No. 77 Rowe who beat Kew Nichols in straight-sets, 6-2, 6-2.

After Fresno State had a 3-0 lead, the Frogs came back and tied it up 3-3. Kucerkova was the winning point for Fresno State. Kucerkova played at the No. 2 spot against TCU's Macall Harkins. Kucerkova and Macall were tied with a set each, then the third set sent them into a tie-breaker.

Kucerkova played to 12 points in the tie-breaker, beating Macall in the third set, 12-10. This gave Fresno State the 4-3 win over TCU.

Fresno State is now 7-4 overall this season and is looking forward to playing on their home turf for the next few weeks, which includes their next match against No. 17 William and Mary on Friday, March 7 at 5:30 p.m.

NCAA WOMEN'S TENNIS RESULTS
Fort Worth, Texas
March 3, 2008

No. 15 Fresno State def. No. 31 TCU, 4-3

Doubles (Fresno State Wins Doubles Point)
1) No. 1 Gloria/Rowe (FS) def. No. 11 Harkins/Sydorska (TCU), 8-4
2) No. 14 Petukhova/Kucerkova (FS) def. Munch-Soegaard/Tuohimaa (TCU), 8-5
3) Heroux/Haskett (FS) def. Nichols/Hertzberg (TCU), 8-4
Order of Completion: 3, 1, 2

Singles
1) Nina Munch-Soegaard (TCU) def. No. 11 Melanie Gloria (FS) 6-3, 3-6, 6-3
2) No. 20 Anastasia Petukhova (FS) def. Anna Sydorska (TCU) 6-0, 6-2
3)* No. 98 Renata Kucerkova (FS) def. Macall Harkins (TCU) 3-6, 6-4, 7-6(10)
4) No. 77 Tinesta Rowe (FS) def. Kewa Nichols (TCU) 6-2, 6-2
5) Katariina Tuohimaa (TCU) def. Jacqueline Haskett (FS) 6-1, 6-0
6) Idunn Hertzberg (TCU) def. Vanessa Heroux (FS) 6-2, 6-3
Order of Completion: 2, 4, 5, 1, 6, 3*
*Clinched Match

Records: Fresno State (7-4), TCU (5-3)