Friday, May 11
Durham, NC
10:00 AM
University of Oregon
4
vs
2
Tennessee
Ducks End NCAA Tournament Drought, Defeat Tennessee 4-2
05/11/18 | Women's Tennis
DURHAM, N.C. – Heading into Friday's NCAA Tournament opener, the Oregon women's tennis team preached that the standard of reaching the tournament had been set and now it was time to take the next step. And that's exactly what the Ducks did, fending off an upstart Tennessee 4-2 to record the program's first NCAA Tournament victory since 2004.
"It was a hard fought match on both sides," said head coach Alison Silverio. "The pressure moments we experienced today are what we have prepared for all season. We were able to handle those situations with poise and toughness."
How it Happened: The Ducks fell behind early as Tennessee took the doubles point following wins at the No. 2 and No. 3 positions.
Junior Daniela Nasser put UO on the board recording a 6-2, 6-3 victory at the No. 4 spot to tie the match, but UT answered almost immediately as Johanna Silva downed Paiton Wagner at No. 6 to re-take the lead, 2-1.
With Alyssa Tobita and Shweta Sangwan battling in first set tiebreakers, freshman Julia Lilien headed into a third set after powering through Tennessee's Ariadna Riley 6-0 in her opening set.
As the Ducks and Volunteers traded blows, sophomore Julia Eshet tried to prevent a third set of her own at the No. 5 spot. Eshet won her opening set, but UT's Gabby Schuck vied to send it into a third, after tying the second set 6-6. The Hollywood, Fla., native shut down Shuck in the extra set, 6-4, 7-6(3), to tie the match once again, 2-2.
Lilien kept the momentum rolling, defeating Elizabeth Profit, 6-0, 4-6, 6-3, to put UO ahead 3-2.
With the match decision on the line, Tobita and Sangwan raced against one another to clinch the victory.
After falling in her opening set tiebreaker, 7-6(7-4), Tobita bounced back to force a third while Sangwan pulled out a hard fought tiebreaker win in her first set, 7-6(9-7).
With both Ducks leading in their final sets, Sangwan managed to cross the finish line first, downing Tennessee's Elizabeth Profit, 7-6(7), 6-2, to secure the match victory.
Notable: With the win today, Oregon is now 4-7 all-time in the NCAA Tournament … Nasser has now won five straight singles matches, sporting an 8-4 record from the No. 4 spot this season … Sangwan is the only current Duck with two singles victories in the NCAA Tournament after recording UO's only win against NC State last season … This is the third time this season UO has come back to win a match after losing the doubles point.
Quotable: Head Coach Alison Silverio
On recording UO's first tournament win since 2004...
"I am proud of the consistent work our student-athletes have been putting in this season, but most importantly I am proud of how they represent our program with character. It's another great accomplishment for our program, but we have to stay on task. It is business as usual."
Up Next: The Ducks will face regional hosts and No. 3 overall seed Duke Saturday at 12 p.m. PT.
COME ON! Sangwan clinches it! She wins 7-6, 6-2 at the No. 2 spot to secure UO's first NCAA Tournament victory since 2004! #GoDucks #NCAATennis pic.twitter.com/AwO7yckQMu
— Oregon Ducks WTennis (@OregonWTennis) May 11, 2018
"It was a hard fought match on both sides," said head coach Alison Silverio. "The pressure moments we experienced today are what we have prepared for all season. We were able to handle those situations with poise and toughness."
How it Happened: The Ducks fell behind early as Tennessee took the doubles point following wins at the No. 2 and No. 3 positions.
Junior Daniela Nasser put UO on the board recording a 6-2, 6-3 victory at the No. 4 spot to tie the match, but UT answered almost immediately as Johanna Silva downed Paiton Wagner at No. 6 to re-take the lead, 2-1.
With Alyssa Tobita and Shweta Sangwan battling in first set tiebreakers, freshman Julia Lilien headed into a third set after powering through Tennessee's Ariadna Riley 6-0 in her opening set.
As the Ducks and Volunteers traded blows, sophomore Julia Eshet tried to prevent a third set of her own at the No. 5 spot. Eshet won her opening set, but UT's Gabby Schuck vied to send it into a third, after tying the second set 6-6. The Hollywood, Fla., native shut down Shuck in the extra set, 6-4, 7-6(3), to tie the match once again, 2-2.
Lilien kept the momentum rolling, defeating Elizabeth Profit, 6-0, 4-6, 6-3, to put UO ahead 3-2.
With the match decision on the line, Tobita and Sangwan raced against one another to clinch the victory.
After falling in her opening set tiebreaker, 7-6(7-4), Tobita bounced back to force a third while Sangwan pulled out a hard fought tiebreaker win in her first set, 7-6(9-7).
With both Ducks leading in their final sets, Sangwan managed to cross the finish line first, downing Tennessee's Elizabeth Profit, 7-6(7), 6-2, to secure the match victory.
Notable: With the win today, Oregon is now 4-7 all-time in the NCAA Tournament … Nasser has now won five straight singles matches, sporting an 8-4 record from the No. 4 spot this season … Sangwan is the only current Duck with two singles victories in the NCAA Tournament after recording UO's only win against NC State last season … This is the third time this season UO has come back to win a match after losing the doubles point.
Quotable: Head Coach Alison Silverio
On recording UO's first tournament win since 2004...
"I am proud of the consistent work our student-athletes have been putting in this season, but most importantly I am proud of how they represent our program with character. It's another great accomplishment for our program, but we have to stay on task. It is business as usual."
Up Next: The Ducks will face regional hosts and No. 3 overall seed Duke Saturday at 12 p.m. PT.
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
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