Air Force Academy
Western New Mexico
W. Tennis Dominates Home Courts in Double-Header Action
3/22/2018 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. -- Air Force swept Western New Mexico and Oklahoma Baptist, 7-0, in non-conference double-header action at the Academy, on Thursday. The Falcons improve to 11-3 overall in the wake of the victories.
The Falcons opened up action on the Outdoor Tennis Courts against Western New Mexico with fire in their eyes, posting a 7-0 sweep over the Mustangs. In the No. 1 doubles position, TJ Fumagalli and Elizabeth Barnickel flew by Smolikova and Kolb without dropping a game, 6-0. Freshman standout duo, Meredith Jones and Ashleigh Harvey followed suit, blanking Justinano and Diaz, 6-0, in the No. 2 position. Meredith Laskey and Carley Hatcliff put the finishing touches on the doubles sweep with a 6-2 win over Roerick and Cormier in the No. 3 position.
Air Force didn't lighten up in singles action, posting five straight-set wins in six matches. Fumagalli handled Smolikova, 6-0, 7-5, in the No. 1 position. Barnickel and Jones played relentlessly in positions No. 2 and No. 3, respectively, blanking their opponents without dropping a single game, 6-0, 6-0. Harvey took the reins in the No. 4 position, handling Diaz in straight sets, 6-1, 6-2. Hatcliff battled tough at No. 5 to prevent Roerick from coming back, eventually sealing the deal in three sets, 7-6, 4-6, 10-6. Clarissa Jolley put the final touch on the sweep with a convincing, 6-1, 6-0, win over Cormier in the No. 6 position.
In the second match of the day, the Falcons took on Oklahoma Baptist on the Indoor Tennis Courts. Air Force continued its dominating roll with another 7-0 sweep.
Fumagalli and Barnickel improved to 10-0 on the season in the No. 1 position with the two wins on Thursday, finalizing action on the week with a 6-1 win over Shkot and Moosbacher. Jones and Harvey improved to 11-3 following their win over Boepple/Walsh, 6-1. Laskey and Hatcliff continued the roll with a convincing 6-2 victory over Abbe and Bowers in the No. 3 position.
"Our doubles continue to look strong," said head coach Kim Gidley. "We had some opportunities to work on some things in singles, but overall, this team will continue to get better and I expect great things from them."
All six competing Falcons finished on a high note, posting five-of-six straight-set victories in singles action to finalize the dual match at 7-0.
"It was good to get some matches in before the team heads off to spring break," continued Gidley. "We divide the season in three parts and this was the last match of the second part of our season. The third season is Airpower April! We are excited to go into this part of the season having won a lot. This should give us a lot of confidence going into the official part of conference play."
AIR FORCE vs. WESTERN NEW MEXICO, Mar. 22
Doubles
Fumagalli/Barnickel (AF) def. Smolikova/Kolb (WNM) -6-0
Jones/Harvey (AF) def. Justiniano/Diaz (WNM) -6-0
Laskey/Hatcliff (AF) def. Roerick/Cormier (AF) -6-2
Singles
TJ Fumagalli (AF) def. Klara Smolikova (WNM) -6-0, 7-5
Elizabeth Barnickel (AF) def. Nadia Justiniano (WNM) -6-0, 6-0
Meredith Jones (AF) def. Jeanne Kolb (WNM) -6-0, 6-0
Ashleigh Harvey (AF) def. Karina Diaz (WNM) -6-1, 6-2
Carley Hatcliff (AF) def. Christine Roerick (WNM) -7-6, 4-6, 10-6
Clarissa Jolley (AF) def. Kaycie Cormier (WNM)-6-1, 6-0
FINAL: AIR FORCE 7, WESTERN NEW MEXICO 0
AIR FORCE vs. OKLAHOMA BAPTIST, Mar. 22
Doubles
Fumagalli/Barnickel (AF) def. Shkot/Moosbacher (OBU) -6-1
Jones/Harvey (AF) def. Boepple/Walsh (OBU) -6-1
Laskey/Hatcliff (AF) def. Abbe/Bowers (OBU) -6-2
Singles
TJ Fumagalli (AF) def. Kim Moosbacher (OBU) -7-6, 6-4
Elizabeth Barnickel (AF) def. Kateryna Shkot (OBU) -6-4, 6-4
Meredith Laskey (AF) def. Tahlia Walsh (OBU) -6-2, 2-6, 6-1
Meredith Jones (AF) def. Alex Bowers (OBU) -6-2, 6-3
Ashleigh Harvey (AF) def. Madeleine Boepple (OBU) 6-2, 6-3
Carley Hatcliff (AF) Caroline Abbe (OBU) -7-6, 6-2
FINAL: AIR FORCE 7, OKLAHOMA BAPTIST 0
Players Mentioned
