University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Saturday, February 13
Lafayette
9:30 a.m.
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
2
vs
5
South Alabama
Cajuns Push South Alabama, No. 67 NC State to Limit
2/13/2016 7:33:00 PM | Women's Tennis
Cajuns (4-3) fall to Jaguars, 5-2, battle No. 67 NC State in 4-3 defeat
LAFAYETTE -- The Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns women's tennis team put together back-to-back solid performances against two strong opponents in South Alabama and No. 67 NC State on Saturday at Cajun Courts. The Cajuns dropped a 5-2 decision to conference foe South Alabama (6-3 season record in 2016) in the morning match before falling just short against No. 67 NC State, 4-3.
The Cajuns record drops to 4-3 on the season after Saturday's matches.
"They were both tough teams, but we made them earn every point," Ragin' Cajuns head coach Stephanie Vallejos said. "It's great to see the things we work on in practice get put into play during matches.
"South Alabama played with confidence and we waited a little too long to get into the match," Vallejos added. "Our level of intensity was better starting off with doubles against NC State and it helped us get the lead with the doubles point early on. They stepped up a little more on the big points in singles and it made a difference for them. Overall, we played well and we battled on every court. Everyone on the team fought hard today, but Kelly [Drew], Melissa [Burckhartt] and Elena [Sava] all stepped up and played smart in singles."
South Alabama Recap
In doubles, South Alabama's No. 2 duo of Laura Matuskova and Alina Zoltareva defeated UL's team of junior Alexandra Way and Abby Johnson, 6-1. The Jaguars took the doubles point at No. 1 as Laura Valkova and Michaela Meszarosova topped senior Melissa Burckhartt and sophomore Kelly Drew, 6-3.
The first singles match went to Matuskova at No. 5, who eliminated Louisiana junior Dana Brankovic, 6-0, 6-2 in straight sets.
No. 4 singles belonged to Burckhartt who beat Alina Zolotareva, 6-4, 6-3.
Three of the final four singles matches were claimed by the Jaguars. Meszarosova defeated Johnson, 6-2, 6-4, while Maria Cinta Papke bested Way in three sets, 6-0, 3-6, 6-4. Drew beat Laura Valkova, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 at No.1 singles, but No. 2 singles went to Monica Mitta who defeated UL sophomore Elena Sava, 6-4, 3-6, 6-0 to take the match by a 5-2 final.
No. 67 NC State Recap
In No. 2 doubles, Wiktori Claudia and Tayla Stenta of NC State defeated Way and Johnson, 6-1. The Cajuns evened the doubles score at 1-1 at No. 1 when Drew and Burckhartt eliminated Joanna Nalborska and Bianca Moldovan, 6-4. The Cajuns completed the comeback at No. 3 doubles where Sava and Clement topped Barbara Mancera and Taylor Zaytoun, 7-6 (2-0).
The two foes split the first two singles matches. At No. 3, Bianca Moldovan defeated Burckhartt, 6-2, 6-0, while Drew topped Martin Frantova, 6-1, 6-2 in straight sets.
No. 4-6 singles each went to NC State. Stenta defeated Johnson, 6-3, 6-4, Amanda Rebol eliminated Clement, 6-2, 6-2, while Wiktorin defeated Brankovic, 6-4, 6-4.
Sava took the No. 2 singles point with a victory over Nalborska, 4-6 (9-7), 6-3, 7-6.
The Cajuns return to the court this Wednesday, Feb. 17 for a home match against Texas A&M Corpus Christi. First serve is slated for 10:30 a.m.
The Cajuns record drops to 4-3 on the season after Saturday's matches.
"They were both tough teams, but we made them earn every point," Ragin' Cajuns head coach Stephanie Vallejos said. "It's great to see the things we work on in practice get put into play during matches.
"South Alabama played with confidence and we waited a little too long to get into the match," Vallejos added. "Our level of intensity was better starting off with doubles against NC State and it helped us get the lead with the doubles point early on. They stepped up a little more on the big points in singles and it made a difference for them. Overall, we played well and we battled on every court. Everyone on the team fought hard today, but Kelly [Drew], Melissa [Burckhartt] and Elena [Sava] all stepped up and played smart in singles."
South Alabama Recap
In doubles, South Alabama's No. 2 duo of Laura Matuskova and Alina Zoltareva defeated UL's team of junior Alexandra Way and Abby Johnson, 6-1. The Jaguars took the doubles point at No. 1 as Laura Valkova and Michaela Meszarosova topped senior Melissa Burckhartt and sophomore Kelly Drew, 6-3.
The first singles match went to Matuskova at No. 5, who eliminated Louisiana junior Dana Brankovic, 6-0, 6-2 in straight sets.
No. 4 singles belonged to Burckhartt who beat Alina Zolotareva, 6-4, 6-3.
Three of the final four singles matches were claimed by the Jaguars. Meszarosova defeated Johnson, 6-2, 6-4, while Maria Cinta Papke bested Way in three sets, 6-0, 3-6, 6-4. Drew beat Laura Valkova, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 at No.1 singles, but No. 2 singles went to Monica Mitta who defeated UL sophomore Elena Sava, 6-4, 3-6, 6-0 to take the match by a 5-2 final.
No. 67 NC State Recap
In No. 2 doubles, Wiktori Claudia and Tayla Stenta of NC State defeated Way and Johnson, 6-1. The Cajuns evened the doubles score at 1-1 at No. 1 when Drew and Burckhartt eliminated Joanna Nalborska and Bianca Moldovan, 6-4. The Cajuns completed the comeback at No. 3 doubles where Sava and Clement topped Barbara Mancera and Taylor Zaytoun, 7-6 (2-0).
The two foes split the first two singles matches. At No. 3, Bianca Moldovan defeated Burckhartt, 6-2, 6-0, while Drew topped Martin Frantova, 6-1, 6-2 in straight sets.
No. 4-6 singles each went to NC State. Stenta defeated Johnson, 6-3, 6-4, Amanda Rebol eliminated Clement, 6-2, 6-2, while Wiktorin defeated Brankovic, 6-4, 6-4.
Sava took the No. 2 singles point with a victory over Nalborska, 4-6 (9-7), 6-3, 7-6.
The Cajuns return to the court this Wednesday, Feb. 17 for a home match against Texas A&M Corpus Christi. First serve is slated for 10:30 a.m.
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
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