Sunday, 01/22/2012

FLUSHING MEADOWS, N.Y. – No. 21 Texas (1-1) won the doubles point and picked up singles wins from senior Krista Damico and sophomore Elizabeth Begley, but No. 9 Virginia (2-0) emerged with a 4-3 victory Sunday afternoon at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.

Texas opened the contest by claiming two of three doubles matches to win the doubles point.  Freshmen Lina Padegimaite and Noel Scott posted an 8-6 win over the Cavaliers’ Emily Fraser and Li Xi at first doubles.  The Longhorns won the match at second doubles by way of a tiebreaker, as junior Aeriel Ellis and sophomore Cierra Gaytan-Leach edged Virginia’s Erin Vierra and Hana Tomljanovic, 9-8.

“We had great performances in doubles from our freshmen at No. 1 doubles,” said UT head coach Patty Fendick-McCain.  “They came from way back to win the match.  We lost to that doubles team (UVA’s Fraser and Xi) in the finals last week (at the National Collegiate Tennis Classic).  At No. 2, we were able to save a few match points to get that doubles point.” 

Texas collected straight-set wins from Begley and Damico at the sixth and third singles positions, respectively, before the Cavaliers won the matches on the remaining four courts to come away with the win.  Begley knocked off Virginia’s 89th-ranked Caryssa Peretz, 7-5, 6-3 at sixth singles to pick up her first win over a ranked opponent, and Damico defeated Virginia’s Xi by a 6-2, 6-3 count at third singles.

“We had our opportunities in singles,” Fendick-McCain said.  “Cierra (Gaytan-Leach) and Noel (Scott) had chances to get into third sets.  Krista (Damico) competed well and played smart tennis.  Aeriel (Ellis) had her chances in the first set. Elizabeth Begley was like a freight train out there.  The match came down to Lina (Padegimaite).  She fought her heart out, but her opponent had a little more in the tank today. We prepared well and did everything we could to give ourselves an opportunity to win. We fell short, but we fought hard.”

Texas takes to the road again next weekend when it heads to Nashville, Tenn., for the ITA Kick-Off Weekend.  UT will meet Alabama on Saturday, Jan. 28 at 10 a.m. Central.  The Longhorns would qualify for next month’s ITA National Team Indoor Championship with a win over Alabama and a victory over either Vanderbilt or Arizona on Sunday, Jan. 29.   

No. 9 Virginia 4, No. 21 Texas 3
At USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center
Doubles

1 Lina Padegimaite/Noel Scott (UT) def. Emily Fraser/Li Xi (Virginia) – 8-6
2 Aeriel Ellis/Cierra Gaytan-Leach (UT) def. Vierra/Tomljanovic (Virginia) – 9-8
3 Lindsey Hardenbergh/Maria Fuccillo (Virginia) def. Krista Damico/Alex Martin (UT) – 8-2

Singles – Order of Finish:  6, 3, 4, 2, 1, 5

1 #29 Emily Fraser (Virginia) def. #47 Aeriel Ellis (UT) – 7-6 (8), 6-2
2 #30 Lindsey Hardenbergh (Virginia) def. #119 Noel Scott (UT) – 6-2, 7-5
3 Krista Damico (UT) def. Li Xi (Virginia) – 6-2, 6-3
4 #85 Hana Tomljanovic (Virginia) def. Cierra Gaytan-Leach (UT) – 6-3, 7-6 (6)
5 #75 Erin Vierra (Virginia) def. Lina Padegimaite (UT) – 2-6, 6-4, 6-1
6 Elizabeth Begley (UT) def. #89 Caryssa Peretz (Virginia) – 7-5, 6-3

## UT ##