May 12, 2006
Stanford, Calif. - Top-ranked and top-seeded Stanford improved to 25-0 today with a 4-0 win over Quinnipiac in the first round of the NCAA Tournament this afternoon at the Taube Tennis Center. The Cardinal will play Arizona in the second round of the championship tomorrow. First serve is slated for 3 p.m., although the women will take the court after the first two rounds of men play, which will begin at 9 a.m.
In doubles, it was a race to finish, with sophomore Lejla Hodzic and freshman Jessica Nguyen leading the way with an 8-0 win on court three. With Stanford leading 7-1 on both of the other courts, it was senior Amber Liu and sophomore Celia Durkin who clinched the Cardinal point as senior Alice Barnes readied to serve for match point.
In singles, junior Anne Yelsey scored the first win a 6-0, 6-0 victory, while Nguyen finished a few minutes later with an identical score. Sophomore Whitney Deason, playing between Yelsey and Nguyen was on her way to a similar scores, as she led 6-0, 3-0. But on the stadium courts, Liu, Barnes and junior Theresa Logar were all leading in the second set, with Barnes and Logar both up 5-0. It was Barnes who finished first, clinching the Stanford victory and halting play.
Stanford extended its home court win streak to 102 matches with today's win and improved its overall win streak to 81 matches. It is the 13th-consecutive NCAA post-season dual victory for the Cardinal, who have won 30 of their last 31 post-season matches. In the 26th year of the NCAA Tournament, Stanford is now 95-11 all-time.
Earlier this season, the Cardinal defeated Arizona at home and on the road. Stanford posted a 7-0 victory in Palo Alto on March 4 and a 4-1 victory in Tucson on April 14. Stanford is 46-1 all-time against the Wildcats.
Despite a late start because of Arizona's nearly four-hour match to start the day, the Cardinal wrapped up the first day of competition quickly, closing out the Bobcats in just one hour and 39 minutes.
The winner of tomorrow's match will advance to the NCAA Roundo of 16 on May 18. The remainder of the NCAA Tournament, for both the men and the women, will be played at Stanford.
NCAA Women's Tennis - First Round
May 12, 2006 * Stanford, Calif.
Taube Tennis Center
#1 Stanford 4, Quinnipiac 0
Doubles
1. #1 Alice Barnes/Anne Yelsey (S) led Gabby Pasternak/Tina Hoang (Q), 7-1, DNF
2. #22 Celia Durkin/Amber Liu (S) def. Jackie Herb/Amanda Petruzzi (Q), 8-1
3. Lejla Hodzic/Jessica Nguyen (S) def. Danielle Rodriguez/Kasey Rosenberger (Q), 8-0
Order of finish: 3, 2
Singles
1. #8 Amber Liu (S) led Gabby Pasternak (Q), 6-0, 4-1, DNF
2. #5 Alice Barnes (S) def. Tina Hoang (Q), 6-1, 6-0
3. #10 Theresa Logar (S) led Jackie Herb (Q), 6-1, 5-0, DNF
4. #11 Anne Yelsey (S) def. Jackie Visinski (Q), 6-0, 6-0
5. #52 Whitney Deason (S) led Amanda Petruzzi (Q), 6-0, 3-0, DNF
6. #73 Jessica Nguyen (S) def. Danielle Rodriguez (Q), 6-0, 6-0
Order of finish: 4, 6, 2
Match Notes: Stanford, ranked No. 1, improves to 25-0 ... Un-ranked Quinnipiac ends the season at 11-11 ... match time: 1:39 ... Stanford will play Arizona on Saturday at 3 p.m. (PT).