University of Oregon
Washington
No. 25 Women's Tennis Continues Hot Play, Defeats No. 16 Huskies, 4-3
03/22/05 | Women's Tennis
SEATTLE ? After six consecutive losses to the Huskies, the No. 25-ranked University of Oregon women's tennis team (13-2, 2-1) came away with a victory over its highest ranked opponent in program history Tuesday, defeating No. 16 Washington, 4-3. The Ducks won the doubles point, while senior Daria Panova defeated UW's No. 9-ranked Dea Sumantri for one of Oregon's three singles victories.
"This team is playing outstanding tennis right now," Oregon head coach Nils Schyllander said. "Every time we hit the court, we are getting better. Our confidence is growing and growing. After beating BYU, we knew we had an excellent chance to get a win over the Huskies."
Playing for only the second time as a tandem, newcomer Anna Powaska and Anna Leksinska came away with a victory at the No. 2 spot, defeating UW's Saskia Nauenberg and Allison Rainey, 8-4. No. 43 Daria Panova and Dominika Dieskova clinched the point for the Ducks with a win at No. 1, improving to 17-6 overall and 12-3 in duals. Oregon has won the doubles point in all but two matches this season.
With a 1-0 lead, all Oregon needed to do was to split six singles matches, and it did just that. Washington came away with quick wins at the No. 3 and No. 5 positions, but the Ducks fired right back as Davina Mendiburu won her tenth dual of the year, defeating Tara Simpson, 7-6, 6-4. No. 73 Dieskova then defeated No. 43 Dinka Hadic at the No. 2 spot, 6-2, 6-3. Dieskova has won 11 of her last 13 dual matches.
With a 3-2 lead heading into the final two matches, Panova provided Oregon with the clinching point, defeating UW's No. 9 Dea Sumantri, 7-5, 6-4. Despite not being ranked, Panova ? a three-time Pac-10 champion ? is 12-2 in dual play this season and will most certainly vault into the rankings with the win.
Oregon has now won back-to-back matches against top 25 opponents (No. 22 BYU, 3/19).
The Ducks head down to the Bay Area this weekend to take on California (Fri., 1:30 p.m.) and No. 1 Stanford (Sat., noon).
No. 25 Oregon 4, No. 16 Washington 3
Seattle, Wash.
March 22
Doubles
1. (43) Panova/Dieskova (UO) def. Hadzic/Sumantri (UW) 8-6
2. Powaska/Leksinska (UO) vs. Nauenberg/Rainey (UW) 8-4
3. Kolbovic/Simpson (UW) def. Mendiburu/Bak (UO) 8-5
Singles
1. Daria Panova (UO) def. (9) Dea Sumantri (UW) 7-5, 6-4
2. (73) Dominika Dieskova (UO) def. (43) Dinka Hadzic (UW) 6-2, 6-3
3. Saskia Nauenberg (UW) def. Anna Powaska (UO) 6-1, 6-0
4. Davina Mendiburu (UO) def. Tara Simpson (UW) 7-6 (7), 6-4
5. Allison Rainey (UW) def. Anna Leksinska (UO) 6-3, 6-1
6. Stephanie Svanfeldt (UW) def. Ester Bak (UO) 6-7, 6-3, (10-7)
Players Mentioned
