Women's tennis defeats Wildcats

The Arizona State women's tennis team ended the dual match season on a high note as they defeated their in-state rival, Arizona, 5-2 in Tucson, Ariz. The Sun Devils finished the dual season with a 13-5, 5-3 Pac-10 record while the Wildcats fell to 12-9, 1-7 Pac-10.

"We played pretty well. It's always tough to play in Tucson," said head coach Sheila McInerney. "They had a tough crowd their today."

ASU got on the board early as they handily picked up the doubles point. The duo of Ashlee Brown and Sianna Simmons blanked the UA team of Natalia Toporowska and Deborah Castany. Michelle Brycki and Hannah James were the next off the court as they finished off Jane Huh and Sarah Landsman 8-2 on Court Three. Micaela Hein and Kelcy McKenna made it a Sun Devil doubles sweep with an 8-5 victory over Claire Rietsch and Natasha Marks.

"We got off to a very good start, I thought we played very well in doubles," said 26th year head coach Sheila McInerney. "It set the tone for the rest of the match."

ASU carried the momentum from doubles over to singles. Defeating Castany 6-2, 6-2, Brycki concluded her sophomore dual season with a perfect 14-0 record. Brycki's fellow sophomore, Simmons, capped a solid season with a 6-2, 6-2 win over Huh.

"Sianna won easily," said McInerney. "Michelle finished the season without dropping a dual match which is fantastic."

As she has several times in her career, junior McKenna made sure the Sun Devils won their match. The All-American held off No. 124 Landsman, to win 6-2, 6-4 and clinch a rivalry victory for ASU.

"Kelcy played really well," said McInerney. "She fought hard and clinched the win."

On Court One, Hein took the first set 6-3 over UA's Natasha Marks. After dropping the second set 6-3, Hein rebounded to win the tie-breaker and clinch her second straight match over a ranked opponent.

"It was a tough crowd and Micaela kept her composure on Court One," said McInerney. "She played well."

The Sun Devils win gives them a point in the State Farm Territorial Cup Series. ASU and the rest of the Pac-10 will head to Ojai, Calif., for the Pac-10 Championships. The tournament begins Thursday, April 22.

Doubles: 

1. Hein/McKenna (ASU) def. Rietsch/Marks (UA) 8-5
2. Brown/Simmons (ASU) def. Toporowska/Castany (UA) 8-0
3. Brycki/James (ASU) def. Landsman/Huh (UA) 8-2
Singles: 

1. No. 76 Hein (ASU) def. No. 107 Marks (UA) 6-3, 3-6, 1-0(4)
2. No. 70 McKenna (ASU) def. No. 124 Landsman (UA) 6-2, 6-4
3. Rietsch (UA) def. Abdala (ASU) 6-3, 6-4
4. Brycki (ASU) def. Castany (UA) 6-2, 6-2
5. Toporowska (UA) def. James (ASU) 6-3, 7-5
6. Simmons (ASU) def. Huh (UA) 6-2, 6-2