Women's tennis wraps-up fall season at ASU Thunderbird Invitational

The Arizona State women’s tennis team wrapped up its home ASU Thunderbird Invitational and its fall tournament season, Sunday, at the Whiteman Tennis Center in Tempe, Ariz.

“I thought it is always a good way to end the fall at home,” said head coach Sheila McInerney. “From a coaching stand point you know what you need to work on and we have a couple months to straighten things out. “

The doubles pair of Michelle Brycki and Nicole Smith battled against the USD pair of Coupez/Claus and came out with a hard-fought 9-8 (7) victory. Also earning a victory on the singles court was Joanna Smith. The freshman defeated Ohio State’s Kelsey Becker, 6-0, 6-3 in an auxiliary match-up on the day.

The play of Nicole Smith really impressed McInerney over the weekend.

“I’m really pleased with Nicole Smith coming back after not playing for two years,” said McInerney. “Her results were phenomenal.”

Nicole Smith had spent the past two seasons sidelined with an ACL injury.

“Competition gets better all the time,” said McInerney. “Nothing is going to be easy. It’s going to be tough from the get go, from the first match against UC Davis in January.”

The Sun Devils open up the spring season at home against UC Davis on January 21 at Noon.

ASU Thunderbird Invitational Results
Sunday, Nov. 6, 2011

Doubles
Brycki/Smith (ASU) def. Coupez/Claus (USD), 9-8 (7)
Haviland/Cecil (OSU) def. Sahagun/Simmons (ASU), 9-7
Manashirova/Steele (OSU) def. Putilina/Craig (Utah), 8-2
Dodge/Lee (Mich) def. Estlander/Davis (Cal), 8-3
Sulahian/Nguyen (Mich) def. Susanyi/Duranteau (Cal), 8-2
Goransson/Schutting (Cal) def. Turvy/Wowchuk (NW), 8-3
Jodoin/McQueen (FS) def. Depenau/Sujica (USD), 8-6
Boncic (KSU)/J. Smith (ASU) def. Stone/Perez, 8-1

Main Draw
Finals
Zsofi Susanyi (Cal) def. No. 1 Tayler Davis (Cal) – 6-0, 6-2

First Round Consolation
Cecilia Estlander (Cal) def. Laura Claus (USD) – 6-3, 6-3

First Round Consolation Back Draw
Saturday**
Callie Craig (Utah) def. Anna Livadaru (NW) – 6-2, 6-2
Anna Depenau (USD) def. Joanna Smith (ASU) – 6-2, 6-2

Sunday
Stephanie Hoffpauir (USD) def. Callie Craig (Utah) – 6-4, 6-3
Anna Depenau (USD) def. Sianna Simmons (ASU) – 6-1, 6-1

Second Round Consolation
Sarah Lee (Mich) def. Juliette Coupez (USD) – 6-1, 6-3
Anastasia Putilina (Utah) def. Brittany Wowchuck (NW) – 6-2, 7-6 (2)

Second Round Consolation Losers
Melissa McQueen (FS) def. Nicole Smith (ASU) – 6-7 (4), 6-0, [10-7]
Kara Bonacic (KSU) def. Gabby Steele (OSU) – 6-2, 6-1

Auxiliary Matches Kristin Dodge (Mich) def. Kelsey Haviland (OSU) – 7-5, 6-0
Michelle Sulahian (Mich) def. Leighann Sahagun (ASU) – 3-0 ret.
Fidan Manashirova (OSU) def. Stephanie Chang (Cal) – 6-0, 6-2
Joanna Smith (ASU) def. Kelsey Becker (OSU) - 6-0, 6-2
Nicole Perez (NAU) def. Visico (Cal) - 6-4, 6-3
Marianne Jodoin (FS) def. Michelle Brycki (ASU) – 6-4, 6-4
Kara Cecil (OSU) def. Hannah Stone (NAU) – 5-7, 6-2 [10-3]