Colorado State University Athletics
Colorado State
Air Force
CSU tennis beats Air Force in season finale
4/19/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
April 19, 2008
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - The Colorado State women's tennis team closed out regular-season play Saturday with a win over Air Force at the Academy. The Rams swept doubles and won four singles matches to capture the 5-2 victory.
The Rams (9-10, 2-6 MWC) have won their past three matches, which is tied for their longest streak of the year (March 16-18).
Laura Neal and Anette Pohjalainen kept their winning streak alive against Air Force, earning a win at No. 2 doubles. The pair has now won three straight.
After a heartbreaking loss to Wyoming Friday, Lauren Strasburger and Hilary Tyler came out ready to play the Falcons. Competing at the No. 1 spot, the duo was able to capture an 8-4 win, its seventh of the season.
Sarah Seltsam and Kirsten Stople teamed up at the final position to close out the doubles sweep for the Rams. They earned their 11th win on the year, which is a team high.
Singles play proved a much tougher task for the Rams.
"It was an interesting match," said Head Coach Jon Messick. "We went through doubles easily. Then Air Force really came out and played hard in singles."
Playing at No. 2 singles, Neal matched up with senior Lauren Wilson. Neal made quick work of her Falcon opponent as she earned a win in straight sets, giving Neal her third straight victory.
Also winning her third consecutive singles match was Tyler. With a 6-1, 6-1 win Friday, Tyler had more work at her No. 1 position Saturday. Winning her first set 6-4, her second set went to extra games. But the senior prevailed, as she picked up the 7-5 win in the second.
Lauren Strasburger competed at the No. 3 position for the Rams. Not allowing her opponent to win any points in the first set, she earned a 6-0, 6-3 win.
The final point was earned by Pohjalainen who took her match to three sets. Despite spotting her opponent the first set, she battled back to win at the No. 4 spot.
Caitlin Fluegge dropped her first set at the No. 5 spot before she was forced to retire with knee pain. Her condition is currently unknown, Messick said.
Having clinched a hard-fought match for the Rams against Wyoming Friday, Greer Satherlie competed at the No. 6 spot. Yet, she was unable to pick up her 17th win as she fell in straight sets.
"We had to work hard to close it out," said Messick. "Air Force is always tough on their home court. We had to play really well to come away with a win."
The Rams now hold a 13-5 record all-time against the Falcons.
The Rams return to the court Thursday as they are expected to be the No. 7 seed in the Mountain West Conference tournament. If so, the team will take on the No. 2 seed (TBA) in Fort Worth, Texas. The match is set for 10 a.m.
Friday's Results:
Doubles:
No. 1: Tyler/Strasburger (CSU) def. Abayan/Erlyn Rudico (AF), 8-4
No. 2: Neal/Pohjalainen (CSU) def. Sarkis/Meghan Kiser (AF), 8-2
No. 3: Seltsam/Kirsten Stople (CSU) def. Wilson/Monreal (AF), 8-4
Singles:
No. 1: Hilary Tyler (CSU) def. Christine Abayan (AF), 6-4, 7-5
No. 2: Laura Neal (CSU) def. Lauren Wilson (AF), 6-2, 6-1
No. 3: Lauren Strasburger (CSU) def. Samantha Sarkis (AF), 6-0, 6-3
No. 4: Anette Pohjalainen (CSU) def. Katrina Eromin (AF), 6-7, 6-3, 1-0 (6)
No. 5: Christen Monreal (AF) def. Caitlin Fluegge (CSU), 6-0, ret
No. 6: Sarah Cassman (AF) def. Greer Satherlie (CSU), 6-4, 6-2
Players Mentioned
