Sport in world

Pair of newcomers pick up first wins, Westerwinds fall to UNI, 5-2

March 20, 2008 on 9:25 pm | In Athletics |

WATERLOO, Iowa- Sophomore transfers Amanda Griffin and Ashley Clark each recorded their first wins as Westerwinds, but the Western Illinois women’s tennis team fell to Northern Iowa, 5-2.

“Northern Iowa is a good team and I’m pleased with our effort today,” stated Western Illinois head coach Michael Hunt. “We took another step in our season today and it was almost a big step.”

Griffin (Granite Bay, Calif./Granite Bay) recorded her first victory in a Westerwinds uniform, defeating the Panthers’ Meghana Paritala at No. 1 singles. Griffin dropped the first set 4-6, but bounced back to win the second set (6-1) and the decisive super tiebreaker, 10-4.

Clark (Waseca, Minn./Waseca) won at the No. 3 singles position, beating Laia Gonzalez-Garrido 6-3, 6-1. Clark then teamed with sophomore teammate Yana Meinert (Buffalo Grove, Ill./Joliet Township) at No. 2 doubles and defeated Paritala and Ashton Schwein, 8-5.

Western nearly took the doubles point from Northern Iowa with a close match at No. 1 doubles. Griffin and junior teammate Kim Lennartsson (Kungsbacka, Sweden/Katrine Lund Gymnasium) battled the Panthers duo of Sampada Kanade and Taynara Moraes taking an early lead of 4-1, before dropping the match 8-5.

“Had we won the doubles point, I think we might have been able to pull off the upset,” said Hunt. “The effort was there and I know that the team is excited to get back to work on the practice courts this week.”

The Westerwinds continue their road trip with a pair of matches at Iowa State, Friday, February 8, and at Creighton, Saturday, February 9.

Singles Results:
#1 Amanda Griffin (WIU) def. Meghana Paritala (UNI) (4-6), 6-1, 10-4
#2 Sampada Kanade (UNI) def. Kim Lennartsson (WIU) 6-1, 6-2
#3 Ashley Clark (WIU) def. Laia Gonzalez-Garrido (UNI) 6-3, 6-1
#4 Taynara Moraes (UNI) def. Kate Kennedy (WIU) 6-1, 6-3
#5 Diana Mendez (UNI) def. Yana Meinert (WIU) 6-3, 6-2
#6 Carolina Hannes (UNI) def. Stephanie Baumer (WIU) 6-0, 6-4

Doubles Results:
#1 Kanade/Moraes (UNI) def. Griffin/Lennartsson (WIU) 8-5
#2 Clark/Meinert (WIU) def. Paritala/ Schwerin (UNI) 8-5
#3 Hannes/Gonzalez (UNI) def. Kennedy/Brooks (WIU) 8-3

Originaly from Source