February 03, 2009

ISLANDERS PULL OFF THRILLER AGAINST LA-LAFAYETTE

Lafayette, La. - The Texas A&M-Corpus Christi women's tennis team got a big win on Tuesday afternoon against Louisiana-Lafayette at Cajun Courts. The Islanders took down the Cajuns by a 4-3 final score.

The win improves the Islanders to 2-2 while ULL falls to 0-3 on the year.

TAMUCC first faced off in doubles against ULL, who spent last season ranked throughout the year, reaching as high as no. 56 in the nation of the ITA rankings.

The Islanders started off by winning the no. 3 doubles match as the team of Mirna Cicak and Nadia Filmalter took a 8-1 victory over Julie Mazinova and Milou Israel. No. 2 doubles saw Nina Ciric and Megan Harless drop a 8-3ecision to Marin Ruiz de Gauna and Angela Dangond and even up the doubles at 1-1. The deciding set was hard-fought but the Islanders did not have enough as Alexandra Dyckman and Erika Iriarte lost 8-6 to Tara Vasovic/Mia Gordon, giving the Cajuns a 1-0 match lead overall.

With the doubles out of the way, the match was really just beginning, as the total time taken to finish took over four and a half hours.

"These girls fought so hard and really willed themselves to win the match." said Associate Head Coach Jason Holland. "They just want so badly to put this team on the map and are really on their way to doing it."

Cicak opened the singles round on a good note, as she took the no. 1 singles round over Mazinova by a 6-0, 36, 7-6 (7-3 final to even the team match at 1-1. No. 5 singles was the next match to finish, a 1-6, 6-3, 6-3win for Dyckman over Gordon to give the Islanders the lead at 2-1 in the team competition.

Israel then took the no. 2 singles match by a 6-1, 6-2 final over Filmalter to even the overall score at 2-2. Iriarte once again put the Islanders on top with a 6-3, 7-5 in no. 4 singles over Ruiz de Gauna to put the match at 3-2.

The Cajuns tied the match when Ciric fell in no. 3 singles to Dangond by a 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 final. That setup a final round to decide the team match with the score tied at 3-3.

Freshman Fabiana Mersan was on the court for the biggest match of her young collegiate career. Although inexperienced in college action, Mersan did not play like a freshman, taking the final match in dramatic fashion. With the no. 6 singles tied at one set apiece, Mersan took the final set over Vasovic and clinched the victory for the Islanders with a 6-7 (5-7), 6-3, 6-3 final. The match win gave the Islanders a 4-3 final victory in the team match.

"These girls really showed the kind of character the have to win this match on the road." said Associate Head Coach Goncale Figeuredo. "This group really has a lot of heart to come back and win today after losing their match at SMU yesterday."

The Islanders now move on to Monroe, La. to take on Louisiana-Monroe. The match is scheduled for noon and will finish off a four day road trip for TAMUCC.

Singles competition

1. Mirna Cicak (TAMUCC) def. Mazinova, Julie (ULL) 6-0, 3-6, 7-6 (7-3)

2. Israel, Milou (ULL) def. Nadia Filmalter (TAMUCC) 6-1, 6-2

3. Dangond, Angela (ULL) def. Nina Ciric (TAMUCC) 4-6, 6-3, 6-3

4. Erika Iriarte (TAMUCC) def. Ruiz de Gauna, Marin (ULL) 6-3, 7-5

5. Alexandra Dyckman (TAMUCC) def. Gordon, Mia (ULL) 1-6, 6-3, 6-3

6. Fabiana Mersan (TAMUCC) def. Vasovic, Tara (ULL) 6-7 (5-7), 6-3, 6-3

Doubles competition

1. Mazinova, Julie/Israel, Milou (ULL) def. Nina Ciric/Nadia Filmalter (TAMUCC) 8-6

2. Dangond, Angela/Ruiz de Gauna, Marin (ULL) def. Megan Harless/Mirna Cicak (TAMUCC) 8-3

3. Alexandra Dyckman/Erika Iriarte (TAMUCC) def. Vasovic, Tara/Gordon, Mia (ULL) 8-1

Match Notes: