The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Arizona State
No. 19 Arizona State edges No. 24 Women's Tennis, 4-3
01.26.2008 | Women's Tennis
TEMPE, Ariz. -- No. 24 Texas rallied from a 3-0 deficit to even the match at three points apiece, but No. 19 Arizona State (3-0) held on for a 4-3 win over the Longhorns Saturday afternoon at ASU's Whiteman Tennis Center.
Trailing 3-0, Texas (1-1) picked up victories from sophomores Stephanie Davison and Sarah Lancaster and freshman Caroline Larsson to even the tally at three points apiece and leave the match's outcome in the hands of ASU's Micaela Hein and UT freshman Maggie Mello.
Mello rallied from a one-set deficit and rebounded from a service break down in the second set to force the match to the decisive third set. Mello persisted and forced the set to a tiebreaker, where Hein prevailed, 7-2.
"Maggie has been ill all week and hasn't been able to practice," said UT coach Patty Fendick-McCain. "Her hand cramped at the end after playing over three-and-a-half hours, and she gave it her all. I am very proud of how she fought and how the others fought back to get us into the last match. It is early in the season and to have fought that hard and shown that much heart bodes well for us."
The Sun Devils registered victories at the second and third positions to claim the doubles point. Arizona State collected singles wins from Nadia Abdala at the first slot and Kelcy McKenna at the second position to assume the 3-0 lead before Texas commenced its rally.
Davison posted a 6-4, 7-5 win over ASU's Laila Abdala at the third slot, and Lancaster dealt Arizona State's Lauren Megale a 6-2, 6-3 defeat at the sixth slot. Larsson added a 6-1, 6-7 (2), 6-2 win over the Sun Devils' Jessica Leitch at the fifth position.
Texas resumes competition on Saturday, Feb. 9 when it hosts No. 36 TCU.
No. 19 Arizona State 4, No. 24 Texas 3
Doubles
1. Corovic/Milic (Texas) def. Abdala/Abdala (ASU) - 8-6
2. Pilecka/Leitch (ASU) def. Mello/Zauft (Texas) - 9-7*
3. Hein/McKenna (ASU) def. Davison/Larsson (Texas) - 8-5
Singles
1. Nadia Abdala (ASU) def. Vanja Corovic (Texas) - 6-1, 6-2
2. Kelcy McKenna (ASU) def. Courtney Zauft (Texas) - 6-2, 6-1
3. Stephanie Davison (Texas) def. Laila Abdala (ASU) - 6-4, 7-5
4. Micaela Hein (ASU) def. Maggie Mello (Texas) - 7-5, 5-7, 7-6(2)*
5. Caroline Larsson (Texas) def. Jessica Leitch (ASU) - 6-1, 6-7(2), 6-2
6. Sarah Lancaster (Texas) def. Lauren Megale (ASU) - 6-2, 6-3
