Tennis Takes Down No. 18 Sun Devils
Eugene, Ore. - It had been almost two full seasons since the Oregon women’s tennis team had beaten a Top-25 team, but that streak came to an end at the Student Tennis Center Thursday night. The Ducks (7-0, 1-0) upset the No. 18 Arizona State Sun Devils (2-1, 0-1), 5-2, to open up Pac-10 play.
The Ducks started the competition by winning their seventh consecutive doubles portion, taking two of the three matches. Daria Panova and Courtney Nagle got back on track, defeating Lauren Colalillo and Kady Pooler, 8-2. Panova and Nagle ended a two match losing streak with the victory.
Dominika Dieskova and Anna Leksinska ran their doubles dual match record to 6-0 by defeating Cindy Sureephong and Wendy Pilecka, 8-2. Davina Mendiburu and Ester Bak fell short, losing to Joslynn Burkett and Sabrina Capannolo, 9-7 for their first doubles loss of the year.
The Ducks, needed to go to three third-set matches in singles to earn the victory, highlighted by Daria Panova’s dramatic come-from-behind win against Joslynn Burkett, 3-6, 6-4, 6-3. The win was Panova’s ninth in a row.
In position No. 2, it was freshman Dominkia Dieskova disposing of Vana Tomas, 6-2, 6-1. The victory gives Dieskova an impressive 6-1 dual record. Senior Courtney Nagle kept her undefeated record (5-0) intact, defeating Sabrina Capannolo, 6-1, 6-4, at the No. 3 position.
Davina Mendiburu continued to dominate, running her record to 7-0 in dual matches. The senior defeated Wendy Pilecka, 6-4, 5-7, (10-6) at the No. 4 spot.
Sophomore Jamie Marshall was beaten by Cindy Sureephong, 6-2, 4-6, 6-2. Junior Ester Bak lost her first match of the season, losing to Kady Pooler, 6-1, 6-2.
"It was a total team effort from top to bottom," said head coach Nils Schyllander. "I felt before the match that we were not going to pass up on this opportunity. I’ve never been more proud of a group than this one."
The Ducks continue play Saturday, when they play host to the Arizona Wildcats at noon.
Oregon 5, Arizona State 2
Eugene, Ore.
Singles
1. Daria Panova (UO) def. Joslynn Burkett (ASU) 3-6, 6-4, 6-3
2. Dominika Dieskova (UO) def. Vana Tomas (ASU) 6-2, 6-1
3. Courtney Nagle (UO) def. Sabrina Capannolo (ASU) 6-1, 6-4
4. Davina Mendiburu (UO) def. Wendy Pilecka (ASU) 6-4, 5-7, (10-6)
5. Cindy Sureephong (ASU) def. Jamie Marshall (UO) 2-6, 6-4, 6-2
6. Kady Pooler (ASU) def. Ester Bak (UO) 6-1, 6-2
Doubles
1. Panova/Nagle (UO) def. Colalillo/Pooler (ASU) 8-2
2. Dieskova/Leksinska (UO) def. Sureephong/Pilecka (ASU) 8-2
3. Burkett/Capannolo (ASU) def. Mendiburu/Bak (UO) 9-7
