Indiana University Athletics
Indiana University
Ohio State
Deep Lineup Pushes Hoosiers Past Buckeyes, 4-3
4/9/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
April 9, 2006
Results
COLUMBUS, Ohio - The No. 30 Indiana women's tennis team narrowly escaped No. 68 Ohio State on April 9 at OSU's Stickney Tennis Center by a score of 4-3. The Hoosiers captured the doubles point for the 16th time this season, along with picking up wins in the Nos. 4-6 singles positions. Additionally, the win is IU's sixth this season over a ranked opponent. The victory improved the Hoosiers' record to 15-5 overall and 5-1 in the Big Ten, while Ohio State fell to 13-8 on the season and 3-3 in conference play.
"This was our first outdoor match of the dual season, so to win on the road outside was important," Indiana head coach Lin Loring said. "This certainly wasn't the best match we have played this season, but we found a ways to win. Alba Berdala's win at No. 5 singles was key. I was really pleased with her three-set match today."
The Hoosiers earned the doubles point after wins in the No. 1 and No. 2 positions. Senior Sarah Batty and junior Laura McGaffigan topped Ohio State's Julie Blackmore and Caitlin O'Keefe, 8-3. Batty and McGaffigan lead the team in doubles with a record of 16-4 at the No. 1 slot.
Freshman Sigrid Fischer and sophomore Brianna Williams upped their record to 14-5 at the No. 2 doubles position after rolling past OSU's Sonia Ruzimovsky and Angela DiPastina, 8-3 to clinch the Hoosiers' 16th doubles point this season.
Junior Cecile Perton and freshman Marah Calvo fell in the No. 3 spot by a close score of 8-6 to Ciara Finucane and Kristin Messmer in only their second time playing together this dual season.
With the 1-0 advantage heading into singles play, IU demonstrated just how deep its lineup is this season. After dropping three matches at the top of the lineup, the bottom three Hoosiers fought hard to bring home the victory.
At No. 1 singles, Batty fell to 12-8 on the season after dropping the match to Ruzimovsky, 6-4, 6-1. Fischer gave the Hoosiers their second point of the match at the No. 4 singles position. Fischer, who improved to 16-4 this season, notched a convincing 6-2, 6-3 win over Finucane.
Despite a close first set, McGaffigan lost to a resilient O"Keefe in the No. 2 position, 7-5, 6-2. McGaffigan is now 12-8 on the season.
Perton gave IU the 3-2 advantage in the match with a 6-4, 6-3 victory at the No. 6 position over DiPastina. Perton improved her record to 13-6.
Freshman Alba Berdala sealed the win for Indiana at the No. 5 slot. Berdala topped Messmer in three sets, 2-6, 6-2, 6-4, to improve to 10-10 this season and give the Hoosiers their 15th win of the season.
In a three-set nail biter at the No. 3 spot, Williams could not outlast Blackmore as the Buckeye walked away with the 4-6, 7-5, 6-3 win. Williams is 11-7 on the season.
The Hoosiers return home for their last home series of the season and senior day next weekend. IU welcomes Minnesota to Bloomington on April 15 for a 10 a.m., match at the Indiana Tennis Courts. Indiana will square off against Iowa the following day at 10 a.m.
No. 30 Indiana def. No. 68 Ohio State
April 9, 2006
Stickeny Tennis Center, Columbus, Ohio
Singles Results
No. 1- Sonia Ruzimovsky (OSU) def. Sarah Batty (IND) 6-4, 6-1
No. 2- Caitlin O'Keefe (OSU) def. Laura McGaffigan (IND) 7-5, 6-2
No. 3- Julie Blackmore (OSU) def. Brianna Williams (IND) 4-6, 7-5, 6-3
No. 4 - Sigrid Fischer (IND) def. Ciara Finucane (OSU) 6-2, 6-3
No. 5- Alba Berdala (IND) def. Kristin Messmer (OSU) 2-6, 6-2, 6-4
No. 6 - Cecile Perton (IND) def. Angela DiPastina (OSU) 6-4, 6-3
Order of Finish: 1, 4, 2, 6, 5, 3
Double Results
No. 1 - Batty/McGaffigan (IND) def. Blackmore/ O'Keefe (OSU) 8-3
No. 2 - Fischer/ Williams (IND) def. Ruzimovsky/ DiPastina (OSU) 8-3
No. 3- Finucane/Messmer (OSU) def. Marah Calvo/Perton (IND) 8-6
Players Mentioned
