Thursday, January 31, 2008 , Updated
UNT women’s tennis blanks UT Arlington
UNT's take
North Texas tennis recorded another 7-0 sweep, this time against the UT–Arlington on Wednesday afternoon.
North Texas (2-1) had back-to-back sweeps against SFA and UTA (0-1), an accomplishment that hasn’t happened in the last five years. Just three matches into the season the Mean Green has already equaled its win total from the previous year.
“This was by far the best singles I have seen this group play,” said Mean Green head coach Sujay Lama. “They played aggressive tennis with intensity and focus. It was our best overall performance since I’ve been here at North Texas.”
Rachel Wilhelm sealed the sweep with a three set tie breaker victory. Idalina Franca and Narine Kazarova improved to 3-0 on the year. All six players won individual singles matches.
The doubles team of Catalina Cruz and Rachel Wilhelm picked up an 8-6 win to give them a 3-0 record for the season.
The Mean Green will return to action for their first home match against Sun Belt opponent Middle Tennessee at noon at the Waranch Tennis Complex.
UTA's take
UT Arlington women's tennis dropped its season opener, 6-0, to North Texas on Wednesday at UTA Tennis Center.
Doubles partners Klara Jagosova and Monika Hadvigerova won the Mavericks only match of the day 8-5 against North Texas's Madura Ranganathan and Amy Joubert. The Mean Green's Rachel Wilhelm and Catalina Cruz won the No. 2 doubles point, 8-6, over Sara Pesic and Daiana Negreanu.
With only five active members on its roster, UTA was forced to concede the third doubles match allowing North Texas to head into singles play with the 1-0 lead.
Hadvigerova as the No. 2 singles dropped her first set 6-4, but came back to win the second set 6-2 before falling 6-3 in the third. Sophomore Sofya Lifanova also drove her match into extra innings, falling 10-8 in the tiebreaker at 7-6 after winning the first set 3-6.
The Mavs originally had a match scheduled for tomorrow with metroplex rival SMU, which has been cancelled, therefore UTA's next action will be against Tulsa on Saturday in Tulsa, Okla.
Singles results
1. Madura Ranganathan (NT) def. Klara Jagosova (UTA-W) 7-5, 6-4
2. Narine Kazarova (NT) def. Monika Hadvigerova (UTA-W) 6-4, 2-6, 6-3
3. Catalina Cruz (NT) def. Daiana Negreanu (UTA-W) 7-6, 6-1
4. Rachel Wilhelm (NT) def. Sofya Lifanova (UTA-W) 3-6, 7-6 (10-8), 1-0
5. Idalina Franca (NT) def. Sara Pesic (UTA-W) 6-3, 6-1
6. Amy Joubert (NT) vs. No player (UTA-W) no result
Doubles results
1. Jagosova/Hadvigerova (UTA-W) def. Ranganathan/Joubert (NT) 8-5
2. Wilhelm/Cruz (NT) def. Pesic/Negreanu (UTA-W) 8-6
3. Franca/Kazarova (NT) def. Lifanova/No player (UTA-W), by default
Sources: UNT and UTA
