Falcons Split Pair of 4-3 Matches

Feb. 17, 2008

The Air Force women's tennis team split a pair of 4-3 matches Sunday at the Academy. In the morning, Air Force won its third consecutive match, defeating Montana State, before falling to Arkansas State in the afternoon match. With the split, Air Force is now 3-7 this season.

Air Force relied on a pair of freshmen to seal the victory over Montana State. Trailing 3-2 to the Bobcats, Air Force freshman Christen Monreal won the No. 6 match over McKenzie Hilmer, 6-3, 6-4, setting up the deciding match at No. 5 singles between AFA freshman Sarah Cassman and Remy Clark. Cassman rallied from a set down and saved two match points in the second-set tiebreaker to defeat Clark, 1-6, 7-6, 6-2 and give the Falcons the victory.

Air Force jumped out to a 1-0 lead by winning the top two doubles matches, with seniors Lauren Wilson and Erika Shortridge winning at No. 1, while juniors Christine Abayan and Meghan Kiser took the No. 2 match. Wilson won the No. 3 singles match, 6-3, 6-3 over Nuria Hernandez.

"Sarah and Christen really came through for us against Montana State," said Air Force head coach Kim Gidley. "Our top two doubles teams also played very well in this match."

In the nightcap against Arkansas State, it was déjà vu as the Falcons were trailing 3-2 with two freshmen remaining on the courts. This time, Katrina Eromin rallied from a set down to defeat Leydi Zora, 2-6, 6-0, 6-4 at No. 6, but Cassman could not repeat her performance and fell to Renee Branker at No. 5, 7-5, 6-1. Cassman saved 12 set points in the first set but could not pull it out.

The Indians captured the doubles point with wins at the top two spots. AFA sophomore Erlyn Rudico and freshman Samantha Sarkis won the No. 3 match, 8-4.

In singles, Kiser won the No. 3 match, 6-4, 6-3, over Rone Van Wyk and Sarkis won at No. 4 over Menna Kamal, 1-6, 6-1, 6-1.

"The effort from our entire team was amazing today," said Gidley. "We are improving week by week and this weekend was a huge stepping stone."

Air Force 4, Montana State 3

Singles
1. Stephanie Jasper (MSU) def. Christine Abayan, 6-0, 6-3
2. Lauren Wilson (AF) def. Nuria Hernandez, 6-3, 6-3
3. Laura Villegas (MSU) def. Samantha Sarkis, 7-5, 6-0
4. Ali Griffin (MSU) def. Meghan Kiser, 6-2, 6-2
5. Sarah Cassman (AF) def. Remy Clark, 1-6, 7-6, 6-2
6. Christen Monreal (AF) def. McKenzie Hilmer, 6-3, 6-4

Doubles
1. Wilson/Erika Shortridge (AF) def. Jasper/Katy Proitetti, 8-6
2. Abayan/Kiser (AF) def. Villegas/Griffin, 9-7
3. Hernandez/Hilmer (MSU) def. Sarkis/ErlynRudico, 8-3

Arkansas State 4, Air Force 3

Singles
1. Maria Oprea (ASU) def. Christine Abayan, 6-2, 2-6, 7-5
2. Paula Chelminska (ASU) def. Lauren Wilson, 6-2, 6-2
3. Meghan Kiser (AF) def. Rone Van Wyk, 6-4, 6-3
4. Samantha Sarkis (AF) def. Menna Kamal, 1-6, 6-1, 6-1
5. Renee Branker (ASU) def. Sarah Cassman, 7-5, 6-1
6. Katrina Eromin (AF) def. Leydi Zora, 2-6, 6-0, 6-4

Doubles
1. Van Wyk/Branker (ASU) def. Wilson/Erika Shortridge, 8-2
2. Oprea/Chelminska (ASU) def. Abayan/Kiser, 8-4
3. Sarkis/Erlyn Rudico (AF) def. Zora/Laing, 8-4

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Players Mentioned

Christine Abayan

Sarah Cassman

Katrina Eromin

Meghan Kiser

Christen Monreal

Erlyn Rudico

Samantha Sarkis

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