WU tennis sees no net gain

Topeka Capital-Journal, The, Apr 10, 2008 by Ken Corbitt

By Ken Corbitt

THE CAPITAL-JOURNAL

The Washburn tennis teams had a chance to solidify their spots atop the MIAA and strengthen their positions in the regional rankings.

The Ichabods and Lady Blues both dropped their first MIAA duals of the season to Northwest Missouri State on Wednesday at Kossover Tennis Center, but the big prize still lies ahead with the conference and regional tournaments.

The Ichabods dropped a 5-4 decision to the Bearcats while the Lady Blues fell 7-2 in a showdown of four nationally-ranked teams.

"Both teams were disappointed we lost but happy we'll probably get another chance at them in the conference tournament," WU coach Jennifer Hastert said. "It's the postseason that makes a big difference in regional rankings and who hosts the NCAA regionals."

The match of the day was the women's No. 1 singles between Northwest's Kristina Vucenov and WU's Diana Goldsmith, the top two players in the region. Vucenov, ranked No. 9 in the nation, pulled out a 4-6, 6-3, 10-8 victory over the 48th-ranked Goldsmith.

Goldsmith trailed 4-2 in the first set but won four straight games to take the set. In a reversal in the second set, Goldsmith was up 3-2 but Vucenov won four straight to set up the third-set super tiebreaker.

Vucenov jumped to an 8-4 lead, then Goldsmith won four of the next five points to pull within 8-9 before Vucenov won the final point.

"When you get to the super tiebreaker, those can go either way," Hastert said.

Amber Raindl picked up two points, winning No. 2 singles and No. 1 doubles with Goldsmith.

The No. 29 Lady Blues are 8-3 overall and 3-1 in the MIAA, and No. 31 Northwest is 15-3 and 4-0.

The match between the No. 24 Ichabods (7-4, 1-1 MIAA) and No. 26 Bearcats (13-4, 2-1) was tied 4-4 and came down to the No. 4 singles. Washburn's Drew Hanson won the first set but Northwest's Felipe Gennari rallied for a 2-6, 6-1, 7-5 win.

Washburn had singles wins from No. 1 Rutger Vliegenberg and No. 2 Ryan Ward. The Ichabods had a 2-1 lead after doubles with wins from Vliegenberg and Andrew Plum at No. 1 and No. 3 Ward-Hanson.

"It's usually a 5-4 match when we play Northwest and it could always go either way," Hastert said.

Ken Corbitt can be reached

at (785) 295-1123

or ken.corbitt@cjonline.com.

NORTHWEST MISSOURI MEN 5, WASHBURN 5

Doubles

1. Vliegenberg-Plum, WU, def. Usieto-Ariboni, NW, 8-5; 2. Gennari- Sehgal, NW, def. Martin-Johnston, WU, 8-4; 3. Ward-Hanson, WU, def. Saulsbury-Auricchio, NW, 8-2.

Singles

1. Vliegenberg, WU, def. Sehgal, NW, 6-2, 6-1; 2. Ward, WU, def. Saulsbury, NW, 6-4, 6-3; 3. Usieto, NW, def. Martin, WU, 6-2, 6-1; 4. Gennari, NW, def. Hanson, WU, 2-6, 6-1, 7-5; 5. Auricchio, NW, def. Plum, WU, 7-6, 6-2; 6. Ariboni, NW, def. Johnston, WU, 6-1, 7- 6 (7-4).

NORTHWEST MISSOURI WOMEN 7, WASHBURN 2

Doubles

1. Goldsmith-Raindl, WU, def. Amaral-Pendrak, NW, 8-5; 2. Vucenov- Castilla, NW, def. Harris-Stevens, WU, 8-3; 3. Lipira-Gomez, NW, def. Miller-Gardner, WU, 8-0.

Singles

1. Vucenov, NW, def. Goldsmith, WU, 4-6, 6-3, 10-8; 2. Raindl, WU, def. Castilla, NW, 6-3, 6-0; 3. Lipira, NW, def. Miller, WU, 6- 4, 6-2; 4. Gomez, NW, def. Gardner, WU, 6-4, 6-4; 5. Amaral, NW, def. Stevens, WU, 6-3, 1-6, 7-6; 6. Pendrak, NW, def. Harris, WU, 6- 5, 6-3.