Colorado State University Athletics
Colorado State
Northern Colorado
CSU tennis snaps seven-match losing streak
4/15/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
April 15, 2008
FORT COLLINS, Colo. - The Colorado State women's tennis team stepped out of conference play to host Northern Colorado Tuesday at Fossil Creek Park. The Rams picked up their first win in eight matches with a clean 7-0 sweep.
The Rams (6-10, 0-6 MWC) captured their first win since March 18 which was also the last time the team swept a match.
"Northern Colorado was a good team. We got down in first sets on a couple courts, but we stayed with it and got it done. It was good to get a win."
Lauren Strasburger and Hilary Tyler were able to defeat Northern Colorado's winningest doubles team at the No. 1 spot to set the tone for doubles play. The team earned their sixth overall victory, winning 8-5 over Tabatha Knop and Mauela Santos who entered the match with a 14-4 record.
Earning the only win for the Rams in their last outing against SDSU, Laura Neal and Anette Pohjalainen picked up their second straight victory. Up early in their match, the duo would never look back, defeating a senior/freshman opposition, 8-3.
Sarah Seltsam and Kirsten Stople found themselves down 3-6 after nine games. Yet, the duo fought hard and managed to come back, winning in a tiebreaker, 9-8 (3). Seltsam and Stople completed the doubles sweep for the Rams, as they picked up their team-high 10th doubles win.
"You always want to get the doubles point," commented Head Coach Jon Messick. "But if you can get a sweep, it gives you a lot of confidence going into singles."
This confidence from doubles play proved key for the Rams as they swept through singles play.
Caitlin Fluegge earned her team-high 16th singles win. Competing against fellow freshman Jodi Ciarvella, she picked up her 10th dual win, which is also a team high. Her win at the No. 5 spot proved the match-clincher for the Rams.
Strasburger snapped a five-match losing streak with her victory at the No. 3 spot. She was able to earn a 7-5, 6-3 win over senior Karen Groll.
Tyler ended a losing streak of her own, picking up her first win in the past eight matches.
Neal and Pohjalainen both earned their 10th singles wins of the season. Both sophomores were able to capture wins in straight sets.
Greer Satherlie, the second winningest Rams singles player, completed the sweep as she earned her 15th win of the season, competing at the No. 6 spot.
Due to expected inclement weather, the Rams have postponed its home finale to Friday. The Rams were scheduled to host Wyoming at Fossil Creek Park Wednesday. Now, the Cowgirls will travel to Fort Collins and play CSU at the same location Friday at 12 noon. Admission is free.
Tuesday's Results:
Doubles:
No. 1: Strasburger/Tyler (CSU) def. Ta. Knop/Santos (UNC); 8-5
No. 2: Neal/Pohjalainen (CSU) def. Groll/Ciarvella (UNC); 8-3
No. 3: Seltsam/Stople (CSU) def. Ti. Knop/LaForest (UNC); 9-8 (3)
Order of finish: 1, 2, 3
Singles:
No. 1: Hilary Tyler (CSU) Tabatha Knop (UNC); 6-2, 7-6 (9)
No. 2: Laura Neal (CSU) def. Tiffany Knop (UNC); 7-6 (1), 6-1
No. 3: Lauren Strasburger (CSU) Karen Groll (UNC); 7-5, 6-3
No. 4: Anette Pohjalainen (CSU) def. Luiza Xavier (UNC); 6-4, 6-2
No. 5: Caitlin Fluegge (CSU) def. Jodi Ciarvella (UNC); 7-5, 7-5
No. 6: Greer Satherlie (CSU) Hanna LaForest (UNC); 6-4, 6-1
Order of finish: 2, 4, 5, 1, 3, 6
