Tennis Falls Inches Short

SEATTLE, Wash. ? The University of Oregon women's tennis team have no reason to feel ashamed after taking host No. 10 Washington down to the wire in a five hour, 4-3, defeat, in the second round of the NCAA Team Championships. The Ducks finish the season 17-9 in what should be considered one of the best seasons in program history.

The No. 32 Ducks began the day on the right foot, snagging the doubles point from Washington and taking a 1-0 lead into singles play. In her final collegiate match, senior Courtney Nagle teamed with junior Daria Panova and upset the No. 10 team of Claire Carter and Dea Sumantri, 8-4. Juniors Ester Bak and Davina Mendiburu clinched the point with the 8-6 defeat of UW's Mugette Ahn and Saskia Nauenberg.

In singles, the Ducks battled hard in every match but fell literally inches from advancing to Sweet Sixteen in Athens, Ga. The match came down to a three-set marathon, with Oregon holding match point ? twice ? before the Huskies Dinka Hadzic defeated Mendiburu, 6-4, 1-6, 7-6.

"It was a great match," Oregon head coach Nils Schyllander said. "We have two match points, we played them great and she (Hadzic) had match points and we played them great. It could of gone, either way. It was the luck of the draw and they came out ahead. But I've never been more proud of an Oregon team before."

Oregon posted wins at the No. 3 and No. 5 positions. Anna Leksinska defeated Nauenberg, 6-1, 7-5, to finish the season 19-12. At the No. 3 spot, Nagle defeated No. 64 Erin Hoe, 6-1, 6-4. Oregon's lone senior finishes out her career third in career wins with 63.

"Despite the loss, I really think we have arrived as a program," Schyllander said. "With everyone except Nagle returning, we will continue to improve and make our mark on the Pac-10 and national tennis scene."

With the team season over, the Ducks will send singles players, No. 12 Panova (32-13) and No. 77 Dieskova (20-16) to the NCAA Individual Championships, in Athens, Ga., May 24-29.

NCAA Championships - Second Round

May 16, 2004 Bill Quillian Stadium - Seattle, Wash.

No. 10 Washington 4, No. 32 Oregon 3

Doubles

1. (44) Panova/Nagle (UO) def. (10) Carter/Sumantri (UW), 8-4

2. Hadzic/Hoe (UW) vs. Leksinska/Dieskova (UO), 5-6 (DNF)

3. Mendiburu/Bak (UO) def. Ahn/Nauenberg (UW), 8-6

Singles

1. (33) Claire Carter (UW) def. (12) Daria Panova (UO), 7-5, 6-1

2. (17) Dea Sumantri (UW) def. (71) Dominika Dieskova (UO), 6-2, 6-2

3. Courtney Nagle (UO) def. (64) Erin Hoe (UW), 6-1, 6-4

4. Dinka Hadzic (UW) def. Davina Mendiburu (UO), 6-4, 1-6, 7-6 (6)