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 Masha Pozar, Massachusetts |
April 18, 2008
MONROEVILLE, Pa. - Junior Laura Danai won the deciding match at the No. 6 singles flight as top-seeded Massachusetts edged No. 8 Saint Louis on Friday, 4-3, in the first day of competition at the 2008 Atlantic 10 Women's Tennis Championship at the Club 4 Life.
Vying for their second league title in program history and first since 2001, the Minutewomen will take on fifth-seeded Xavier in the semifinals on Saturday at 1:00pm. The Musketeers held off No. 4 Duquesne, 4-2, in the final match of the evening as junior Jeanette Feider's 7-6 (5), 6-4, victory over Kristin Swenson at No. 6 singles clinched the win. XU seeks its first-ever title in program annals.
Danai trailed Saint Louis senior Rachel McCullagh, 5-2, in the opening set before rallying for a hard-fought 7-6 (4), 7-5 victory. UMass also received wins from senior Masha Pozar at No. 1 doubles and first singles as it advanced to the semifinals for the sixth straight year.
"Laura was really struggling but she got her head back in the match and really elevated her game to match the high play of her opponent," said Massachusetts head coach Judy Dixon.
"She has been the last player on the court to decide matches several times this season and I think that experience put us in a good position in the end."
The second semifinal on Saturday will feature five-time defending champion Richmond versus No. 2 Temple at 3:30pm. The third-seeded Spiders earned wins over No. 14 La Salle, 5-0, and sixth-seeded Rhode Island, 4-0, with freshman Kelly Tidwell registering a pair of straight-set victories at the No. 4 flight. Richmond looks to become the first program in Championship history to capture six consecutive crowns. The Owls turned aside seventh-seeded Charlotte, 4-0, as Elyse Steiner and Anastasia Rukavysnykova each posted straight-set wins at the Nos. 2 and 5 flights, respectively.
Action commences at 8:00am on Saturday with a pair of matches as #12 St. Bonaventure meets thirteenth-seeded Saint Joseph's and No. 11 Dayton takes on fourteenth-seeded La Salle. For complete coverage of the 2008 Atlantic 10 Women's Tennis Championship, log on to www.atlantic10.org
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