The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Memphis
Women's Tennis Falls To No. 75 Memphis, 4-3
2/22/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
Feb. 22, 2003
CINCINNATI, Ohio. ----- The UAB women's tennis team (3-3, 1-1) lost a close match to 75th-ranked Memphis, 4-3, here on Saturday. The match started with singles, but was decided in doubles, as the two teams were tied headed into the doubles point. The Tigers were able to win at the No. 1 and No. 3 positions to take the match.
"Memphis is a tough team to beat due to their depth and athleticism," said UAB head coach Mert Ertunga. "I thought our girls played very well at all positions. Some of our players have been working on different things in practice and they are seeing the fruits of their work. It's just disappointing that they did not get rewarded for their great effort, but all credit goes to Memphis."
Blazer Natascha Immele was victorious over Memphis' Sabrina Lindemann, 6-4, 7-5, in the No. 1 singles match. However, the Tigers tied things up when Monica Gonzalez-Gordo defeated UAB's Femke de Boer, 7-6, 6-2 at the No. 2 spot. UM took the lead at No. 3 singles, after Viktoria Gruber beat Blazer Yvonne Ernst, 6-4, 7-5. UAB fought back winning in the No. 4 match, as Ornischa Maier-Knapp defeated Memphis' Marlene Dirnstorfer, 6-2, 6-0. At the No. 5 spot, Tiger Andrea Feichtinger beat UAB's Julia Hoch, 6-4, 6-0. UAB's Dellaciprete tied the singles competition at three matches each when she defeated Memphis' Kristin Noble, 7-5, 7-5, in a tight match at the No. 6 position.
At the No. 1 doubles position, Memphis' Lindemann and Gonzalez-Gordo defeated UAB's Immele and Hoch, 8-4. Blazers de Boer and Ernst beat UM's Gruber and Feichtinger, 8-1, at the No. 2 spot. Unfortunately, UAB's Maier-Knapp and Dellarciprete weren't able to hold off Tigers Dirnstorfer and Noble, as they were defeated, 8-6 at the No. 3 position.
The loss breaks the Blazers' three-match win streak and is UAB's first C-USA defeat.
Next, UAB battles another C-USA foe, Cincinnati, on Sunday, February 23 at 10 a.m.
