Air Force Academy
Colorado College
Falcons Split Pair of Home Matches
3/7/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
March 7, 2008
The Air Force women's tennis team split a pair of matches Friday at the Academy. The Falcons opened the day with a 7-0 victory over Division III opponent Colorado College, then dropped their fifth 4-3 decision of the season to North Texas. Air Force is now 5-12 this season.
The Falcons swept through all nine matches in the morning against CC. Senior Erika Shortridge led the way by winning the No. 1 singles match, 6-3, 7-5 over Kelsey Smith, then paired with freshman Samantha Sarkis to win at No. 2 doubles, 8-2, over Britt Swenson and Jordan Evans.
Air Force won the other two doubles matches and five singles contests handily.
In the nightcap, North Texas jumped out to a 1-0 lead by sweeping all three doubles matches. The Falcons fought back in singles play, but could only muster a split of the six matches.
Junior Christine Abayan won an exciting match at the No. 1 singles spot, rallying from a set down to defeat Olga Catalina Cruz, 6-7, 6-4, (10-8). Freshmen Christen Monreal (No. 5) and Sarah Cassman won at Nos. 5 and 6, respectively for the Falcons. Monreal, who has a four-match winning streak, defeated Rachel Wilhelm, 7-6(10), 6-4, while Cassman beat Shannon MacKenzie, 6-1, 1-6, (10-7).
"Our team is right there and the fact that they are still fighting and still competing shows a lot of character and I could not be prouder of everyone on the team," said Air Force head coach Kim Gidley.
Air Force is idle until Monday, March 24, when it takes on Stetson in DeLand, Fla.
Air Force 7, Colorado College 0
Singles
1. Erika Shortridge (AF) def. Kelsey Smith, 6-3, 7-5
2. Christen Monreal (AF) def. Jordan Evans, 6-2, 6-1
3. Katrina Eromin (AF) def. Leah Zipperstein 6-3, 6-1
4. Erlyn Rudico (AF) def. Sally Bryant 6-2, 6-3
5. Sarah Cassman (AF) def. Britt Swenson 6-0, 6-0
6. Cathy Haycraft (AF) def. Anh Lai 6-1, 6-1
Doubles
1. Christine Abayan/Meghan Kiser (AF) def. Smith/Zipperstein, 8-2
2. Shortridge/Samantha Sarkis (AF) def. Swenson/Evans, 8-2
3. Rudico/Lauren Wilson (AF) def. Bryant/Lai, 8-1
North Texas 4, Air Force 3
Singles
1. Christine Abayan (AF) def. Olga Catalina Cruz, 6-7, 6-4, 10-8
2. Madura Ranganathan (NT) def. Lauren Wilson, 6-2, 6-4
3. Narine Kazarova (NT) def. Meghan Kiser, 6-3, 7-5
4. Idalina Franca (NT) def. Samantha Sarkis, 6-3, 6-1
5. Christen Monreal (AF) def. Rachel Wilhelm, 7-6 (10), 6-4
6. Sarah Cassman (AF) def. Shannon MacKenzie, 6-1, 1-6, (10-7)
Doubles
1. Ranganathan/Cruz (NT) def. Abayan/Kiser, 8-5
2. Wilhelm/Kazarova (NT) def. Sarkis/Erika Shortridge, 8-4
3. Franca/Amy Joubert (NT) def. Wilson/Erlyn Rudico, 8-4
Players Mentioned
