2008 Woodie Awards
Despite breeze, tennis teams find road success in 1st OVC matches
UTM Sports Information
Issue date: 3/6/07 Section: Sports
The Skyhawk men's and women's tennis teams opened OVC play last weekend with a victory over Austin Peay State University. The men defeated the Govs 5-2, while the women surrendered only one match in route to a 6-1 win.
The women's match was played in less then ideal conditions with winds howling around 20 mph and the temperature not getting above 50 degrees for the entire match. This did not affect the women though and they took care of business like defending champs should.
They got out to an early lead in the match, winning the doubles point and then clinching the match with decisive singles victories at the No. 1, 2 and 4 positions. The lone setback was at No. 3 singles where Belisa de Brito lost in a third set super tie-break.
"Overall the women played very well and stayed focused the entire match, despite the harsh conditions. Most of the time weather like this can get mentally fatiguing on anyone, resulting in poor play, but the women stayed focused and got the job done," said Dennis Taylor, Skyhawk head coach.
The men's match was quite the opposite from the women's match. The weather was fine because the match was played indoors and there was only one match that was won decisively.
In doubles play, the Skyhawks won the point with a clutch win at the No. 3 position, 9-7. Then Andre Yesipov put the men up 2-0 with a win at No. 4 singles. Austin Peay then tied the match with wins at No. 1 and 3 positions.
With the match coming down to the final three matches the Skyhawks clinched a victory when Alfredo Krywacz and Stewart McRae pulled out clutch three set victories. The men then won at No. 6 singles giving them a 5-2 victory.
"This was a roller coaster of a match. I am just glad we could pull it out because I know we will have plenty more close matches forthcoming. This will definitely give us some more confidence going into the rest of conference play," said Coach Taylor.
Next up for both teams is a trip to Birmingham, Ala., next weekend to take on UAB on Saturday and then Birmingham Southern on Sunday. They both will then look to go 2-0 in conference play when they travel to Cookeville to take on Tennessee Tech on Monday, March 12.
"We definitely have a big weekend ahead of us. We need to have a good week of practice in order to prepare for these three matches. I do not think we are playing are best tennis and hopefully this full of practice and two non-conference matches before Tech will get us playing at the level I see us capable of," said Taylor.
The women's match was played in less then ideal conditions with winds howling around 20 mph and the temperature not getting above 50 degrees for the entire match. This did not affect the women though and they took care of business like defending champs should.
They got out to an early lead in the match, winning the doubles point and then clinching the match with decisive singles victories at the No. 1, 2 and 4 positions. The lone setback was at No. 3 singles where Belisa de Brito lost in a third set super tie-break.
"Overall the women played very well and stayed focused the entire match, despite the harsh conditions. Most of the time weather like this can get mentally fatiguing on anyone, resulting in poor play, but the women stayed focused and got the job done," said Dennis Taylor, Skyhawk head coach.
The men's match was quite the opposite from the women's match. The weather was fine because the match was played indoors and there was only one match that was won decisively.
In doubles play, the Skyhawks won the point with a clutch win at the No. 3 position, 9-7. Then Andre Yesipov put the men up 2-0 with a win at No. 4 singles. Austin Peay then tied the match with wins at No. 1 and 3 positions.
With the match coming down to the final three matches the Skyhawks clinched a victory when Alfredo Krywacz and Stewart McRae pulled out clutch three set victories. The men then won at No. 6 singles giving them a 5-2 victory.
"This was a roller coaster of a match. I am just glad we could pull it out because I know we will have plenty more close matches forthcoming. This will definitely give us some more confidence going into the rest of conference play," said Coach Taylor.
Next up for both teams is a trip to Birmingham, Ala., next weekend to take on UAB on Saturday and then Birmingham Southern on Sunday. They both will then look to go 2-0 in conference play when they travel to Cookeville to take on Tennessee Tech on Monday, March 12.
"We definitely have a big weekend ahead of us. We need to have a good week of practice in order to prepare for these three matches. I do not think we are playing are best tennis and hopefully this full of practice and two non-conference matches before Tech will get us playing at the level I see us capable of," said Taylor.
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