Air Force Academy
New Mexico State
NMSU Sneaks Past Air Force, 4-3
2/27/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
Feb. 27, 2009
The Air Force women's tennis team had its six-match winning streak snapped Friday with a hard-fought 4-3 loss to New Mexico State at the Academy. The Falcons fell to 8-6 while NMSU improved to 4-3 this season.
The Falcons had a great opportunity to win their eighth straight doubles point, but came up a few points short. AFA's No. 2 team of freshman Allie Chermel and sophomore Christen Monreal won their ninth consecutive match, defeating Stephanie Eusebe and Isabela Kulaif, 8-5. The Falcons' top duo of junior Erlyn Rudico and sophomore Katrina Eromin held four match points against the nation's 58th-ranked doubled team of Sophia Marks and Aleksa Costa before falling, 9-7. The Aggies then clinched the doubles point when Laura Boguet and Natalia Salum rallied from a 5-1 deficit to beat Air Force senior Christine Abayan and sophomore Samantha Sarkis, 9-8.
In singles play, Monreal tied up the match when Boguet retired midway through the second set at the No. 2 position. NMSU took a 3-1 lead with straight-set wins at the Nos. 1 and 3 positions.
Sophomore Sarah Cassman closed the lead with a three-set win, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 over Costa at No. 4, and Eromin tied it up at 3-all with a 6-3, 6-3 win over Bianca Discordia at the No. 5 spot. The team match came down to the No. 6 spot, where Paulina Zuniga wrapped it up for NMSU with a 7-5, 3-6, 6-3 victory over Sarkis.
The Falcons return to action on Sunday, March 1 against Portland State at the Academy. The match is scheduled to begin at 8:45 a.m.
New Mexico State 4, Air Force 3
Feb. 27, 2009 at USAFA, Colo.
Singles
1. Sophia Marks (NMSU) def. Christine Abayan, 6-2, 6-2
2. Christen Monreal (AF) def. Laura Boguet, 6-1, 3-0 ret.
3. Stephanie Eusebe (NMSU) def. Allie Chermel, 6-4, 6-3
4. Sarah Cassman (AF) def. Aleksa Costa, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4
5. Katrina Eromin (AF) def. Bianca Discordia, 6-3, 6-3
6. Paulina Zuniga (NMSU) def. Samantha Sarkis, 7-5, 3-6, 6-3
Doubles
1. Marks / Costa (NMSU) def. Eromin / Erlyn Rudico, 9-7
2. Monreal / Chermel (AF) def. Eusebe / Isabela Kulaif, 8-5
3. Boguet / Natalia Salum (NMSU) def. Abayan / Sarkis, 9-8
Players Mentioned
