DENTON, Texas (3/10/13) - No. 54 North Texas defeated Wichita State, 4-1, on a windy Sunday afternoon in Denton.
"I thought we did a great job of staying poised and disciplined with all that wind today," head coach Sujay Lama. "All these challenges are important because it builds character and that is what you need to do well in the post season. None of these matches are easy but the key is finding ways to win and that is what we did today."
North Texas (8-4, 2-0) took an early 1-0 lead after winning the doubles point.
Sophomores Kseniya Barabush and Franziska Sprinkmeyer won the first doubles match defeating Carla Venticinque and Veronika Pedrazzi, 8-3, in the No. 2 doubles spot. Seniors Valentina Starkova and Barbora Vykydalvoa clinched the doubles point for the Mean Green defeating Lucia Blaskova and Lucia Kovolova, 8-4, at the No. 1 doubles spot.
Vykydalova added to the Mean Green lead defeating Kovolova, 6-2; 6-2, in the No. 2 singles slot.
Ilona Serchenko fell to Montse Blasco Fernandez, 3-6; 2-6, in the No. 5 singles slot.
Sprinkmeyer defeated Satajaporn Mahajaroenkul in straight sets, 6-4; 6-1, in the No. 4 slot before Starkova defeated Julia Schiller, 6-2; 6-3, in the No. 3 singles slot to clinch the win for North Texas.
Bardabush and Agustina Valenzuela were in the third set of their respective matches.
"We have a day or two to rest our bodies and then get ready for two conference matches on the road," Lama added. "We are looking forward to playing in Lafayette because that is where the conference championship is this year. It gives us an opportunity to familiarize with the court conditions and the environment."
The Mean Green travel to Lafayette to take on ULM on Saturday, March 16, and Louisiana-Lafayette on Sunday, March 17, at the Cajun Courts on the campus of Louisiana-Lafayette.
No. 54 North Texas 4, Wichita State 1
March 10, 2013
Waranch Tennis Complex
Denton, Texas
Singles
1. Kseniya Bardabush vs. Rebecca Pedrazzi 2-6, 6-2, 1-2 (unfinished)
2. Barbora Vykydalova def. Lucia Kovolova 6-2, 6-2
3. Valentina Starkova def. Julia Schiller 6-2, 6-3
4. Franziska Sprinkmeyer def. Satjaporn Mahajaroenkul 6-4, 6-1
5. Montse Blasco Fernandez def. Ilona Serchenko 6-3, 6-2
6. Agustina Valenzuela vs. Veronika Blaskova 6-2, 3-6, 0-1 (unfinished)
Doubles
1. Starkova/Vykydalova def. Blaskova/Kovolova 8-4
2. Bardabush/Sprinkmeyer def. Venticinque/Pedrazzi 8-3
3. Joubert/Serchenko vs. Blasco Fernandez/Schiller 5-5
Order of Finish
Doubles: 2, 1
Singles: 2, 5, 4, 3
Team Records
North Texas: 8-4
Wichita State: 5-9