Weber State University Athletics
Weber State University
Portland State
Wildcats Pull Off 4-3 Win Over Portland State
2/25/2013 4:36:00 AM | Women's Tennis
OGDEN, Utah -- The Weber State women's tennis team used the doubles point and a split in singles to earn a hard-fought 4-3 win over Portland State on Sunday at the Ogden Athletic Club.
Kristi Elmer and Thais Kurer rolled to an 8-1 win over Marina Todd and Nayanatara Vadali in the No. 1 doubles match to get things going for the Wildcats. The bottom two doubles matches were split with 8-5 scores, with Ashley Tanner and Michelle Warwick taking the No. 2 match for WSU over Mandy Mallen and Marti Pellicano.
"The doubles point is almost always crucial," said WSU head coach Jonas Ehlrin. "Today we really got off to a good start and was able to get that point. As we expected, it was hard fought in singles, and the doubles point ended up being decisive for us."
In singles, Tanner, Elmer and Annika Karlsen took points for the Wildcats, giving WSU the four points necessary to clinch the match.
Tanner took down Mullen 6-2, 6-2 in the No. 1 match, while Elmer cruised against Todd in the No. 2 match, losing only a single game in a 6-0, 6-1 victory.
Following Portland State wins in the No. 3, 4, and 5 spots in the lineup, the match came down to the No. 6 position, where Karlsen went to a third set against Alexa McDonald. Karlsen took an easy first set 6-1, but saw McDonald respond with a 6-2 second to force the deciding set. The finale was a battle, which went to a tiebreak that Karlsen ended with a 7-6 (7-5) win.
"I'm very proud of the unity and fight that our team displayed today," said Ehrlin. "It was a very gutty performance, and something that we can really build upon."
Weber State improved to 3-8 overall with the win, and moved to an even 1-1 in Big Sky Conference play. Portland State dropped to 6-6 overall and 1-2 in league play.
Weber State 4, Portland State 3
Feb 24, 2013 at Ogden, UT (Ogden Athletic Club)
Singles competition
1. TANNER, Ashley (WSU) def. MALLEN, Mandy (PSU) 6-2, 6-2
2. ELMER, Kristi (WSU) def. TODD, Marina (PSU) 6-0, 6-1
3. FREY, Kelsey (PSU) def. PHONHARATH, Nittaya (WSU) 6-2, 6-2
4. GOVI, Megan (PSU) def. KURER, Thais (WSU) 6-2, 6-0
5. PELLICANO, Marti (PSU) def. WARWICK, Michelle (WSU) 6-3, 6-2
6. KARLSEN, Annika (WSU) def. MCDONALD, Alexa (PSU) 6-1, 2-6, 7-6 (7-5)
Doubles competition
1. ELMER, Kristi/KURER, Thais (WSU) def. TODD, Marina/VADALI, Nayanatara (PSU) 8-1
2. TANNER, Ashley/WARWICK, Michelle (WSU) def. MALLEN, Mandy/PELLICANO, Marti (PSU) 8-5
3. FREY, Kelsey/GOVI, Megan (PSU) def. LLOYD, Carly/PHONHARATH, Nittaya (WSU) 8-5
Match Notes
Portland State 6-6; 1-2 BSC
Weber State 3-8; 1-1 BSC
Players Mentioned
