Box Score The tennis teams swept a pair of matches from North Alabama Saturday at the Hixson Racquet Club. The men's team shut out the Lions, 7-0, while the women's match came down to the final singles match before the Lady Mocs squeezed out a 4-3 victory.
With the NCAA Division II-level Lions only having five players available for competition, North Alabama could only field two doubles teams and five singles players on the men's side.
The Mocs, 6-1, took the first two doubles matches for an early 1-0 lead.
In singles play, the Mocs made quick work of the Lions (1-3), with only one match needing an extra set for the decision.
Seniors Badr Bouabdellah and Razvan Axente led the charge with victories at No. 1 and 2 singles respectively. Junior Peter Sauska, who has given up only 10 games in his last seven sets, improved to 7-0 with a 6-2, 6-2 win over Zac Berenicki at No. 3 singles.
Senior Pavel Vostrikov earned a 6-4, 6-4 win at No. 4, and freshman Rick van de Bovenkamp used a 10-8 superbreaker to snap a one-set-apiece tie at No. 5, defeating Martin Siejka, 6-1, 3-6, 10-8.
“I was extremely happy with the way the guys played today,” men's head coach Carlos Garcia said. “We had a good week of practice, and it paid off today.”
For the second straight Saturday, the Lady Mocs pulled out a 4-3 victory. They defeated Belmont, 4-3 last week.
After Chattanooga, now 4-2, claimed the doubles point for a 1-0 edge, the Lions tied the score with a win at No. 1 singles. Phillipa Reakes handed senior Lindsey Ballard her first loss of the season, 6-4, 6-1.
North Alabama (1-3) owned a 3-1 lead after picking up wins at the No. 3 and No. 2 singles spots in that order. Mallory Waites defeated senior Bonnie Adams at No. 3, 7-5, 6-0, and Yuliya Zelenskaya got past junior Beata Knizat at No. 2, 6-4, 7-6.
Chattanooga's underclassmen withstood the pressure and pulled out the win for the team.
Sophomore Kate Ksiezopolski was a 6-0, 6-0 winner over Kylie Realmuto at No. 6 singles, and freshman Arianna Sanjines tied the team score at 3-3 with a 6-4, 6-3 win over Arrie Moore at No. 5.
Number four singles was the last match decided, and freshman Annie Green broke the tie with a 6-3, 6-3 win over Louise Klasen.
“I can't say enough about our young players,” head coach Jeff Clark said. “They helped us get through a very close match. We went through this experience last week, and we did not panic. North Alabama has a strong team, and we are pleased to come away with a win.”
The Lady Mocs return to the court at the Hixson Racquet Club tomorrow with a noon match against UAB. The men's team hosts Murray State Feb. 22, also played indoors at Hixson.
Chattanooga men 7, North Alabama 0
Hixson Racquet Club, Hixson, Tenn.
Doubles (for one team point)
1. Axente/Sauska (UTC) def. Bereznicki/Miskos (UNA), 8-4
2. Bouabdellah/Vostrikov (UTC) def. Cardenas/Sodemann (UNA), 8-4
3. UTC won by forfeit
Singles
1. Badr Bouabdellah (UTC) def. Jan Miskos (UNA), 6-1, 6-2
2. Razvan Axente (UTC) def. Carlos Cardenas (UNA), 6-0, 6-0
3. Peter Sauska (UTC) def. Zac Bereznicki (UNA), 6-2, 6-2
4. Pavel Vostrikov (UTC) def. Christoffer Sodemann (UNA), 6-4, 6-4
5. Rick van de Bovenkamp (UTC) def. Martin Siejka (UNA), 6-1, 3-6, 10-8
6. UTC won by forfeit
Team records: UTC (6-1); North Alabama (1-3)
Chattanooga women 4, North Alabama 3
Hixson Racquet Club, Hixson, Tenn.
Doubles (for one team point)
1. Adams/Knizat (UTC) def. Klasen/Reakes (UNA), 8-5
2. Ballard-Robinette (UTC) def. Waites/Zelensuana (UNA), 8-7 (0)
3. Green-Sanjines (UTC) def. Moore/Realmuto (UNA), 8-0
Singles
1. Phillipa Reakes (UNA) def. Lindsey Ballard (UTC), 6-4, 6-1
2. Yuliya Zelenskaya (UNA) def. Beata Knizat (UTC), 6-4, 7-6 (11)
3. Mallory Waites (UNA) def. Bonnie Adams (UTC), 7-5, 6-0
4. Annie Green (UTC) def. Louise Klasen (UNA), 6-3, 6-3
5. Arianna Sanjines (UTC) def. Arrie Moore (UNA), 6-4, 6-3
6. Kate Ksiezopolski (UTC) def. Kylie Realmuto (UNA), 6-0, 6-0
Team records: UTC (4-2); North Alabama (1-3)
