COLUMBUS - The third-ranked Columbus State University women's tennis team quickly ended a two-match losing skid on Friday by sweeping No. 13 Azusa Pacific 4-0 at the John W. Walden Tennis Center.
After dropping the final two matches of last weekend's Division II ITA National Indoor Championship in Oklahoma City, the Lady Cougars (7-3) made quick work of Azusa.Â
"The ladies responded well against another challenging opponent," commented head coach
Evan Isaacs. "They stuck to their gameplans and I was thrilled with the result."
Doubles play was tight with CSU stealing two of the three matches to earn the first point of the day. Against the seventh-ranked pair in the West region,
Neila Trklja and
Kristina Baran were impressive at first doubles taking the match 6-4.
Candice Paya and
Beatriz Lopez were 6-2 winners for the Lady Cougars at second doubles.Â
Azusa Pacific's (5-2) lone win of the day came at third doubles as Petra Ivankovic and Audrey Stewart edged
Luise Sachs and
Amanda Citre 7-5.
Three ranked showdowns took place in singles play on Friday, however, only second singles was completed where No. 21 Paya defeated No. 8 Anna Savchenko 6-3, 6-1. In a top-20 match at the top spot, No. 10 Sachs was leading No. 18 Ivankovic 2-6, 6-3, 2-1 in the third set while both No. 17 Lopez and No. 34 Jacky Wagner won a set apiece at third singles.
Freshman Trklja got another crucial win for Columbus State at fourth singles. Trklja took down the first ranked opponent of her career defeating No. 42 April Wong 1-6, 6-0, 6-4. Baran had a straight-set victory playing at the fifth spot after a 6-1, 7-6 (7-5) decision over Katia Betancourt.
Agostina Bigotti was also unable to finish her match at sixth singles. The freshman was tied at four in the second set after dropping the first.Â
Columbus State will cap off the weekend against Montevallo on Saturday. The match will now begin at 2:30 p.m., 30 minutes later than the original 2 p.m. start time. All the action will take place at the Walden Tennis Center at Cooper Creek Park.
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