College Tennis News - No. 15 Rollins Upsets No. 9 California of Pa. 7-2

WINTER PARK, Fla. (March 4, 2009) – Rollins dropped the top singles and top doubles matches, but won the rest as the 15th ranked Tars downed 9th ranked California University of Pennsylvania 7-2 Wednesday evening.

Rollins improves to 8-0 and picks up a key win that should impact the national rankings. Cal falls to 8-2 on the year.

No. 15 Margaret Junker and Kayli Ragsdale suffered their second set back of the season, falling to Helena VanEsendeyk and Alina Stanila 9-7 at No. 1 doubles. The Tars then earned a 2-1 lead as Holly Fleming and Roshni Luthra teamed to down Axelle Fernandez Laurie Navarro 8-3 at No. 2 and Stefaniya Tkach and Allie Steele took Nina Kowalski and Mariana Oliveira 9-7 at No. 3.

Singles proved to be a carbon copy of doubles with Rollins falling in the top flight, but scoring wins in the rest of the matches.

Luthra faced third ranked VanEsendeyk in No. 1 singles and fell 6-1, 6-1. Fleming won the No. 2 match for Rollins over Stanila 7-5, 6-2, (6) while Tkach beat Fernandez 6-1, 6-3. Junker defeated Kowalski 6-1, 6-3 at No. 4, Steel won No. 5 over Oliveira 6-0, 6-4 and Ragsdale posted a 6-3, 6-4 win over Zherdeva at No. 6.

Rollins will now head west to California for their annual spring break trip next week. The Tars will open the trip with a date against Hawaii-Hilo at 11 a.m. in San Diego.

Tennis Match Results
California (Pa.) vs Rollins College
03/04/09 at Winter Park, Fla.

#15 Rollins College 7, #9 California (Pa.) 2

Singles competition
1. Helena VanEsendeyk (CAL) def. Roshni Luthra (RC) 6-1, 6-1
2. Holly Fleming (RC) def. Alina Stanila (CAL) 7-5, 6-2, 10-6
3. Stefaniya Tkach (RC) def. Axelle Fernandez (CAL) 6-1, 6-3
4. Margaret Junker (RC) def. Nina Kowalski (CAL) 6-1, 6-3
5. Allie Steele (RC) def. Mariana Oliveira (CAL) 6-0, 6-4
6. Kayli Ragsdale (RC) def. Anastassiya Zherdeva (CAL) 6-3, 6-4

Doubles competition
1. Helena VanEsendeyk/Alina Stanila (CAL) def. Margaret Junker/Kayli Ragsdale (RC) 9-7
2. Holly Fleming/Roshni Luthra (RC) def. Axelle Fernandez/Laurie Navarro (CAL) 8-3
3. Stefaniya Tkach/Allie Steele (RC) def. Nina Kowalski/Mariana Oliveira (CAL) 9-7

Match Notes:
California (Pa.) 8-2; National ranking #9
Rollins College 8-0; National ranking #15
Official: Tammy Childs