May 12, 2007
FRESNO, Calif. - Fourteenth-ranked Fresno State secured the doubles point and then picked up the first three singles points as the host Bulldogs cruised past Army, 4-0, in the first round of the NCAA Women's Tennis Championships Saturday afternoon at Wathen Tennis Center.
The Black Knights, who saw their seven-match win streak snapped, finish the season with an overall record of 15-11. Winners of 12 consecutive matches, Fresno State improves to 21-3 with the victory. The Bulldogs advance to the second round of the NCAA Championships where they will take on Pepperdine.
Making its third straight NCAA Tournament appearance, Army hung tough at No. 1 doubles as the tandem of Niki Flach and Brooke Jones took four games from Fresno State's top duo of Melanie Gloria and Tinesta Rowe. The match was halted with the Bulldogs' pairing leading 7-4.
Fresno State secured the doubles point by taking the matches at Nos. 2 and 3. Renata Kucerkova and Anastasia Petukhova defeated Sarah Giles Madden and Jessica Shurtz, 8-1, at No. 2, while Danon Beatty and Vanessa Heroux took down Kristin Beehler and Paige Ford, 8-1, at No. 3.
The Bulldogs iced the victory with singles wins at Nos. 2, 3 and 4. Kucerkova downed Jones, 6-1, 6-1, at No. 2, Petukhova defeated Giles-Madden, 6-1, 6-1, at No. 3 and Rowe eased past Beehler, 6-0, 6-1, at No. 4.
Match Notes:
It marks Army's third straight NCAA trip to the state of California after making trips to Stanford (2005) and Southern California (2006) the last two seasons ... Army remains winless in NCAA Tournament competition (0-7) ... Army had played Pacific-10 schools in each of its six previous trips to the NCAA Tournament ... the Black Knights are 0-2 versus California (1999 and 2003), and 0-1 against Arizona State (2000), Washington (2001), Stanford (2005) and Southern California (2006) ... the Black Knights have won 15 or more matches eight straight years.
No. 14 Fresno State 4, Army 0
Singles
1. Melanie Gloria (FS) led Niki Flach - 6-0, 5-0 DNFv
2. Renata Kucerkova (FS) def. Brooke Jones - 6-1, 6-1
3. Anastasia Petukhova (FS) def. Sarah Giles-Madden - 6-1, 6-1
4. Tinesta Rowe (FS) def. Kristin Beehler - 6-0, 6-1
5. Jacqueline Haskett (FS) led Diana Alquero - 6-0, 4-1 DNF
6. Danon Beatty (FS) led Paige Ford - 6-1, 4-1 DNF
Doubles
1. Gloria/Rowe (FS) led Flach/Jones - 7-4 DNF
2. Kucerkova/Petukhova (FS) def. Giles-Madden/Jessica Shurtz - 8-1
3. Beatty/Vanessa Heroux (FS) def. Beehler/Ford - 8-1
