Marie Boura and
Erika Januskova made a furious comeback in doubles play to help spark #1 Fresno Pacific to a 7-2 road win at #5 Azusa Pacific on Monday.
Doubles could not have started better for the Sunbirds as the team took all three matches and featured the match of the day. Boura and Januskova recovered from 7-1 down and faced numerous match points to win the match 9-8 which gave the Sunbirds that important 3-0 lead going into singles play.
Sara Celma and Elizabeth Mcfeeters had won 8-4 at number three. Quickly to follow was Cristina Valladares and Yumiko Justin with an 8-2 win.
In singles Azusa Pacific quickly returned fire as Januskova was beaten by Hoffee at number five. However from then on things continued to go the way of the Sunbirds as Boura won at number two and McFeeters clinched the match at number six with a 6-4, 6-4 win over Wetzig.
Valladares playing number three won a close match edging it out in the match tie-break, 10-8. Justin suffered only her second loss of the year, falling 7-6, 3-6, 10-8 in an entertaining encounter. Celma finished the day off with what was a repeat of an epic match earlier in the season with Bon-Bakalov. However she was able to come through in straight sets this time, winning 7-6, 6-3 to round off a successful day for the Sunbirds.
“It was a tough match today, but the success of winning three doubles matches really made a big difference and gave us the confidence we needed going into singles play.” said coach Neil Castro.
The Sunbirds face #3 Point Loma Nazarene at home on Wednesday at 11 am.
#1 Fresno Pacific 7, #5 Azusa Pacific 2
03/28/11 at Azusa, Calif. (Munson & Bavougian Tennis Complex)
| Singles competition |
| 1. CELMA, Sara (FPU) def. BON-BAKALOV, Sheryl (APU) 6-3, 7-6 (7-5) |
| 2. BOURA, Marie (FPU) def. McNALL, Natalie (APU) 6-4, 6-2 |
| 3. VALLADERES, Cristina (FPU) def. HARRIS, Emily (APU) 4-6, 7-5, 10-8 |
| 4. KOETTERHEINRICH, Kim (APU) def. JUSTIN, Yumiko (FPU) 7-6 (7-4), 3-6, 10-8 |
| 5. HOFFEE, Leah (APU) def. JANUSKOVA, Erika (FPU) 6-0, 6-2 |
| 6. McFEETERS, Elizabeth (FPU) def. WETZIG, Casey (APU) 6-4, 6-4 |
| Doubles competition |
| 1. BOURA, Marie/JANUSKOVA, Erika (FPU) def. BON-BAKALOV, Sheryl/HARRIS, Emily (APU) 9-8 (7-1) |
| 2. JUSTIN, Yumiko/VALLADERES, Cristina (FPU) def. HOFFEE, Leah/WETZIG, Casey (APU) 8-2 |
| 3. CELMA, Sara/McFEETERS, Elizabeth (FPU) def. McNALL, Natalie/RUBY, Molly (APU) 8-4 |
| Match Notes |
| Fresno Pacific 10-4, 8-0 GSAC; National ranking #1 |
| Azusa Pacific 14-3, 8-3 GSAC; National ranking #5 |
| Order of finish: Doubles (3,2,1); Singles (5,2,6,3,4,1) |
| Official: Howard / Kosakowski T-3:45 A-40 |
