The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Fall Blue Gray Classic
Blazers Heat Up In Afternoon Singles Action Friday
9/11/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
Sept. 11, 2009
MONTGOMERY, Ala. -- After a slow start Friday in doubles action, the UAB women's tennis team bounced back strong in afternoon singles play on day one at the Fall Blue & Gray Classic hosted by Auburn University at Montgomery.
The Blazers earned victories in five of their seven singles matches in the afternoon session after winning just one of eight doubles matches in the morning at their first event of the fall season.
UAB's top three singles players -- Evelien Strijker, Giorgia Romeo and Paula Alvarez -- each won in straight sets in the opening matches of their respective singles flights. Brittany DeFelice and Jenny Cape also advanced in their winner's brackets as straight-set winners in singles.
"We didn't start the way we wanted, but we took a lot of things from those doubles matches and really improved in the afternoon," UAB head coach Krissy Hall said. "Even in the doubles, we were setting points up well, but we just weren't able to finish. In the singles matches, we did a much better job finishing."
Strijker, a third-team All-Conference USA selection in each of her first two seasons, teamed with Alvarez to win the lone doubles match of the day for the Blazers with an 8-3 decision over the top doubles tandem from Belmont.
In addition to UAB, Belmont and tournament host AUM, this weekend's field also includes Samford, South Alabama, Southern Illinois, Kennesaw State, West Florida and Brenau (Ga.).
Play resumes Saturday at 8:30 a.m. with day two of the tournament. Saturday's action will include two more rounds of singles and one more round of doubles.
Friday's Singles Results
Orange Flight: Evelien Strijker def. Naomi Higa (W. Florida); 6-2, 6-0. White Flight: Giorgia Romeo def. Andrie Meiring (Samford); 6-2, 6-4. Black Flight: Paula Alvarez def. Jessica Flannery (So. Illinois); 6-4, 6-2. Crimson Flight: Richole Berger lost to Kristin Lewis (Samford), 6-3, 6-4. Purple Flight: Brittany DeFelice def. Eline Nagels (Brenau); 6-2, 6-2. Blue Flight: Jenny Cape def. Beth Erwin (Samford); 7-6 (6), 6-3. Pink Flight: Rachel Cohen lost to Natalia Nunes (Belmont); 6-2, 6-4.
Friday's Doubles Results
Gold Flight: Paula Alvarez/Evelien Strijker def. Abby Leatherwood/Abigail Hogan (Belmont); 8-3; lost to Alina Volman/Katie Welch (S. Alabama); 8-2. Gold Flight: Jenny Cape/Giorgia Romeo lost to Tereza Veverkova/Ana Veselinovic (AUM); 8-1; lost to Vera Shkundina/Alena Sergeychik (Kennesaw St.); 8-2. Bronze Flight: Richole Berger/Brittany DeFelice lost to Jennifer Dien/Jessica Flannery (So. Illinois); 8-7 (3); lost to Eline Nagels/Jolene Wong (Brenau); 8-4. Scarlet Flight: Rachel Cohen/Krista Cole lost to Stephanie Parkison/Kristin Lewis (Samford); 8-0; lost to Lindsay Dillon/Therese Lagerkvist (Kennesaw St.); 8-3.
Players Mentioned
