Wednesday, 03/20/2013

IRVINE, Calif. --- UCI women's tennis righted the ship late in singles to earn its tenth win of the year, 5-2, over the visiting SMU Mustangs Sunday at Anteater Tennis Stadium.

UC Irvine (10-3, 3-0) shot out to an early advantage with a doubles sweep.

Singles started slowly as four of the six matches went SMU's way. Sarah Stadfelt and 125th-ranked Kristina Smith left no doubt with quick, straight-set victories to give UCI the 3-0 lead.

SMU would battle back with wins at Nos. 2 and 5 to close the gap to 3-2, but the 'Eaters would fight back thanks to Sarah Gong and Franziska Goettsching would bear down and send their matches to a third set.

Gong scored the clinching point in dominating fashion, while Goettsching would earn an addition point by winning the third-set tiebreaker.

UCI continues its busy week in which it will play four matches right in the heart of a lengthy homestand. Marquette pays the 'Eaters a visit on Monday, March 11th with a 1:30 match at Anteater Tennis Stadium.

#24 UC IRVINE 5, SMU 2

March 10, 2013
Irvine, Calif. – Anteater Tennis Stadium

DOUBLES

1) #49 Goettsching/Smith (UCI) def. Bulgakova/Malyachikova (SMU) – 8-5
2) Mamiit/Stadfelt (UCI) def. Dishkova/Verner (SMU) – 8-3
3) A. Facey/Schweyer (UCI) def. Cieplucha/Erkeeva (SMU) – 8-4

UC Irvine earns the doubles point

SINGLES

1) #125 Kristina Smith (UCI) def. Edyta Cieplucha (SMU) – 6-4, 6-1
2) Aleksandra Malyarchikova (SMU) def. Marivick Mamiit (UCI) – 7-5, 6-0
3) Franziska Goettsching (UCI) def. Vaszilisza Bulgakova (SMU) – 6-7, 7-5, (11-9)
4) Sarah Gong (UCI) def. Elena Fayner (SMU) – 2-6, 7-5, 6-2
5) Hristina Dishkova (SMU) def. Ali Facey (UCI) – 6-1, 7-6
6) Sarah Stadfelt (UCI) def. Holly Verner (SMU) – 6-1, 6-1

Order of finish: Doubles – 3, 1, 2 | Singles – 6, 1, 5, 2, 4, 3