May 9, 2003
STANFORD, Calif. - The top-seeded Stanford University women's tennis team opened defense of its NCAA Championship with a convincing 4-0 first round win over visiting Louisiana-Monroe (19-5) on Friday afternoon at the Taube Tennis Center. The Cardinal (21-1) is now a perfect 22-0 in its opening round matches, and has lost just nine points in those contests, since the tournament's inception in 1982.
"I'm really happy with how we looked today," Stanford head coach Lele Forood said. "It's been a long time since we played a dual match (April 22), so I'm very excited about how we came out and played against a good team."
Stanford will next face 42nd-ranked Michigan (14-9) on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. in second round action at the Taube Tennis Center. The Wolverines blanked 37th-ranked Colorado 4-0 on Friday morning. The winner of Saturday's match will advance to the third round of the NCAA Team Championship on Thursday, May 15 at the University of Florida.
"We don't know much about Michigan because we have never played them," Forood said. "We do know some of their players from the junior ranks, and we know we'll have to be ready to play."
The Cardinal jumped out to a fast start with victories at Nos. 1 and 3 doubles. Junior Lauren Barnikow (Woodbridge, NJ) and sophomore Erin Burdette (Jackson, GA), who are ranked No. 1 in the country, recorded an 8-4 win at No. 1. Junior Emilia Anderson (Cincinnati, OH) and sophomore Story Tweedie-Yates (Redmond, WA) later secured the doubles point with an 8-4 victory at No. 3.
Stanford wrapped up the dual by losing a total of just four games in its three singles victories.
Burdette was a 6-1, 6-1 winner at No. 3, Tweedie-Yates prevailed 6-0, 6-0 at No. 6 and freshman Amber Liu (La Mesa, CA) clinched the victory with a 6-1, 6-1 triumph at No. 1.
#1 Stanford 4, Louisiana-Monroe 0
Doubles (Stanford wins point)
No. 1 - #1 Lauren Barnikow/Erin Burdette (S) d. Nataly Ostrovska/Anna Yenyk, 8-4
No. 2 - Alice Barnes/Amber Liu (S) v. Veronica Perez/Matilde Taborda (LM), suspended (Stanford led 6-5)
No. 3 - Emilia Anderson/Story Tweedie-Yates (S) d. Kelly Bucewicz/Diana Espinal, 8-4
Order of Finish: 1, 3
Singles
No. 1 - #4 Amber Liu (S) d. Matilde Taborda, 6-1, 6-1*
No. 2 - #16 Lauren Barnikow (S) v. Veronica Perez, suspended (Stanford led 6-2, 4-1)
No. 3 - #27 Erin Burdette (S) d. Kelly Bucewicz, 6-1, 6-1
No. 4 - #11 Alice Barnes (S) v. Nataly Ostrovska, suspended (Stanford led 6-2, 5-2)
No. 5 - Emilia Anderson (S) v. Diana Espinal. suspended (Stanford led 6-2, 3-1)
No. 6 - Story Tweedie-Yates (S) d. Zamambo Mhkize, 6-0, 6-0
Order of Finish: 3, 6, 1
* - Clinching victory.
Records - Louisiana-Monroe 19-5, #1 Stanford 21-1.