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 Dina Senkina, Temple |
April 19, 2008
MONROEVILLE, Pa. - Junior Kara Courtney won a three-set thriller at No. 1 singles and No. 5 Xavier rallied after losing the doubles point to advance to the finals of the 2008 Atlantic 10 Women's Tennis Championship with a 4-2 victory over top-seeded Massachusetts on Saturday at the Club 4 Life.
Vying for their first-ever crown, Xavier will face second-seeded Temple on Sunday at 10:30am. The Owls knocked off four-time defending champion Richmond, 4-1.
"Our level of play kind of slipped toward the end of the season, but the girls who have been here before know what this Championship is all about," said Xavier first-year head coach Eric Toth.
"I just couldn't be more proud of these kids."
Down 1-0 after Kristin DiPiero and Tanisha Hodgson clinched the doubles point for UMass at the second flight, the Musketeers received straight set victories from Jill Ducro and Kaitlyn Zinn at the Nos. 3 and 4 flights, respectively. XU junior Jeannette Feider dropped the first set (6-7, 5) to Massachusetts' Laura Danai at No. 6 before taking the next two sets, 6-3, 6-3. Courtney then propelled the Musketeers into the finals for the first time since 2004 with a 7-6 (4), 4-6, 6-2 win over senior Masha Pozar, her first victory in three tries versus Pozar at the Championship.
"That match at No. 1 was played at as high a level as you will see in the Atlantic 10. Fortunately for us, Kara pulled it out," said Toth.
"Masha is a class act and has meant a lot to the UMass program."
Junior Dina Senkina registered a 6-3, 6-3 win over Pamela Duran at the No. 1singles flight after emerging victorious with Elyse Steiner at second doubles as Temple advanced to the finals for the second consecutive year. Lucie Pamderova and Anastasia Rukavysnykova also notched singles' wins for the Owls, who seek their fourth-ever A-10 crown and first since 2003.
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Play commences on Sunday at 8:00am as No. 7 Charlotte faces eighth-seeded Saint Louis in the fifth-place match. The finals will take place at 10:30am, along with Massachusetts taking on Richmond for third place.
For complete coverage of the 2008 Atlantic 10 Women's Tennis Championship, log on to www.atlantic10.org
