EUGENE, Ore. - In a marathon five-hour match on Friday afternoon at the Student Tennis Center, the Oregon women's tennis team upset No. 54 San Diego 4-3 in an intense, down-to-the-wire battle. Oregon's Ana Cecilia Olivos needed to win at No. 3 singles with all eyes on her, and the senior pulled out the 6-7, 6-2, 7-6 win to pull Oregon to the upset.
Oregon snapped a six match losing streak by defeating a third ranked foe in 2009, improving its overall record to 8-9. San Diego fell to 9-8 on the season.
Oregon took the doubles point by winning at No. 2 and No. 3 but the real action came in singles play.
With two matches left to play and Oregon up 3-2, the Ducks needed to win one and San Diego needed to win both remaining matches to pull out the come-from-behind victory.
The Toreros looked on their way with a 7-6, 4-6, 7-5 win at No. 6 singles by Alexandra Demidova but the senior Olivos, playing in the second to last home match of her career, would not let that happen. She won 6-7, 6-2, 7-6 in an incredibly entertaining three set battle.
Other winners for the Ducks on Friday included Pavlina Smatova (6-1, 3-2 (ret.) - Sam Mouly withdrew during the match) and Madelie Janse van Rensburg, who knocked off USD's No. 121 ranked Tammy Kevey 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 at No. 4 singles.
Three out of the six matches went into third sets and the singles portion lasted four hours. But it was worth the wait, as the Ducks snapped their lsoing streak and pulled out the upset.
Oregon will recognize its senior tomorrow at noon as they play in-state foe Portland State in the final home match of the 2009 season. Admission is free and pizza will be served (also free) to fans between the doubles and singles sessions.
Results
Oregon 4, #54 San Diego 3
Eugene, Ore.
Singles
No. 1: SD Juliette Coupez def. UO Carment Seremeta, 6-3, 6-0
No. 2: UO Pavlina Smatova def. SD Samantha Mouly, 6-1, 3-2 (ret.)
No. 3: UO Ana Cecilia Olivos def. SD Maja Sujica, 6-7, 6-2, 7-6
No. 4: UO Madelie Janse van Rensburg def. SD Tammy Kevey, 4-6, 6-3, 6-3
No. 5: SD Maria Raygada def. UO Stephanie Macfarlane, 7-5, 6-4
No. 6: SD Alexandra Demidova def. UO Trudie du Toit, 7-6, 4-6, 7-5
Doubles
No. 1: SD Coupez/Teeling def. UO Olivos/Smatova, 8-5
No. 2: UO Seremeta/du Toit def. SD Sujica/Kevey, 8-6
No. 3: UO Hirt/Janse van Rensburg def. SD Raygada/Mouly, 8-1
