Women's tennis fierce on day one of the Pac-10 Championships

April 23, 2009

he Arizona State Women's Tennis team showed their strength of heart on Thursday as they battled it out against the best of the Pac at the 2009 Pac-10 Championships at Ojai Valley Athletic Club.<separator></separator>After a short weather delay, the team came out strong in Round One of Championship Singles play, as senior <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/w-tennis/mtt/abdala_laila00.html">L… Abdala</a> swiftly put away Oregon's Madelie van Rensburg 6-1, 6-1 to advance. <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/w-tennis/mtt/brycki_michelle00.html… Brycki</a> followed suit, battling it out for a win over USC's Gabriella Niculescu 4-6, 7-6 (5), 6-2. <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/w-tennis/mtt/abdala_nadia00.html">N… Abdala</a> faced off against USC's Alison Ramos, but was unable to overcome the Trojan, ultimately falling 7-5, 6-2. Sophomore <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/w-tennis/mtt/mckenna_kelcy00.html">… McKenna</a> bravely took on Arizona's Natasha Marks, but was defeated by the Wildcat contender 6-2, 6-4.<separator></separator>The second round, however, would not be as successful for the Sun Devil team. <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/w-tennis/mtt/abdala_laila00.html">L… Abdala</a> played with heart and took her first set against Stanford's Jessica Nguyen 6-7, but would be unable to best the Cardinal player, falling 7-6, 6-3. While freshman <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/w-tennis/mtt/brycki_michelle00.html… Brycki</a> kept a close eye on Cal's Marina Cossou, she was ultimately defeated in a 6-3, 6-4 decision.<separator></separator>Round One of Invitational Singles play started off rocky for the Devils as <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/w-tennis/mtt/vanhorne_ali00.html">A… Van Horne</a> was unable to get the better of Oregon's Siobhan Cavan, despite a monumental effort, falling 6-3, 6-1. <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/w-tennis/mtt/simmons_sianna00.html"… Simmons</a> quickly recovered for the Sun Devils, blowing the Ducks Trudie du Toit out of the water 6-0, 7-5.<separator></separator>In Round Two, <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/w-tennis/mtt/simmons_sianna00.html"… Simmons</a> was unable to repeat her winning performance, falling to UCLA's Stephanie Wetmore 6-2, 6-2. <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/w-tennis/mtt/brown_ashlee00.html">A… Brown</a> also found her opponent difficult to overcome, dropping her match against Washington State's Aleksandra Malovic 6-3, 6-3.<separator></separator>The Devils now move on to the singles consolation bracket and doubles play.<separator></separator>Exciting Pac-10 Tournament action continues tomorrow at the Ojai Valley Athletic Club and continues through Sunday. Results are available at www.ojaitourney.org and www.pac10.org<separator></separator>Pac-10 Women's Championship Singles<separator></separator>First Round:<separator></separator>Alison Ramos (USC) def. <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/w-tennis/mtt/abdala_nadia00.html">N… Abdala</a> (ASU), 7-5, 6-2<separator></separator><a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/w-tennis/mtt/abdala_laila00.html">L… Abdala</a> (ASU) def. Madelie van Rensburg (ORE), 6-1, 6-1<separator></separator><a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/w-tennis/mtt/brycki_michelle00.html… Brycki</a> (ASU) def. Gabriela Niculescu (USC), 4-6, 7-6 (5), 6-2<separator></separator>Natasha Marks (ARIZ) def. <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/w-tennis/mtt/mckenna_kelcy00.html">… McKenna</a> (ASU), 6-2, 6-4<separator></separator>Second Round:<separator></separator>Jessica Nguyen (STAN) def. <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/w-tennis/mtt/abdala_laila00.html">L… Abdala</a> (ASU), 6-7, 7-6, 6-3<separator></separator>Marina Cossou (CAL) def. <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/w-tennis/mtt/brycki_michelle00.html… Brycki</a> (ASU), 6-3, 6-4<separator></separator>Pac-10 Women's Invitational Singles<separator></separator>First Round:<separator></separator><a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/w-tennis/mtt/simmons_sianna00.html"… Simmons</a> (ASU) def. Trudie du Toit (ORE), 6-0, 7-5<separator></separator>Siobhan Cavan (ORE) def. <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/w-tennis/mtt/vanhorne_ali00.html">A… Van Horne</a> (ASU), 6-3, 6-1<separator></separator><a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/w-tennis/mtt/brown_ashlee00.html">A… Brown</a> (ASU), Bye<separator></separator>Second Round:<separator></separator>Stephanie Wetmore (UCLA) def. <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/w-tennis/mtt/simmons_sianna00.html"… Simmons</a> (ASU), 6-2, 6-2<separator></separator>Aleksandra Malovic (WSU) def. <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/w-tennis/mtt/brown_ashlee00.html">A… Brown</a> (ASU), 6-3, 6-3<separator></separator>