The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Louisiana-Monroe
Success At Top Can't Push Blazers Past ULM
4/13/2012 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
April 13, 2012
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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- The UAB women's tennis team won at the top two spots in the singles lineup Friday afternoon, but ULM won each of the remaining matches and claimed a 5-2 victory over the Blazers at George Ward Park.
Paula Alvarez and Isabel Fernandez each won in three sets for UAB, which dropped to 6-10 this spring. ULM improved to 14-2 with the win.
The Blazers will be back in action Saturday against No. 58 Tulane in their regular-season finale. The match is scheduled for 11 a.m. CT at the UAB tennis courts and will serve as both Campus Kids' Day and Senior Day for Paula Alvarez, UAB's lone senior.
Campus Kids' Days take place across the country as an initiative of the United States Tennis Association (USTA) to expose more junior players, their parents and coaches to college tennis varsity team matches.
Admission is free for all fans, and kids are especially encouraged to come out for free food, free contests and free giveaways.
In Friday's loss, Fernandez pulled through for a 6-2, 2-6, 6-4 win over ULM's Medy Blankvoort at No. 2 singles, while Alvarez outlasted Sophie Rufyikiri in a match tiebreaker, 3-6, 6-4, 10-6, at the No. 1 spot.
But by the time those matches ended, ULM had already secured the team victory. The Warhawks swept the three doubles matches to claim the opening point and then picked up a win by default at No. 6 singles as a UAB team short-handed because of injury was unable to field a complete lineup.
ULM then won each of the singles matches from the No. 3 position through the No. 5 spot in straight sets.
Silvia Tumova defeated Rachel Daniell, 6-2, 6-2, at No. 3, Monica Winkel topped Caroline Faught, 6-4, 6-4, at No. 4, and Ema Turudija downed Menanteau Moolman, 6-1, 6-1 at No. 5.
UAB will now finish off the regular season with Saturday's match against Tulane and then prepare for the Conference USA Championship, slated for April 19-22 in Memphis, Tenn.
