Sunday, April 7
USAFA
12:00 PM MT
Air Force Academy
4
vs
0
Utah State
Photo by: Mike Lowell
#68 Women’s Tennis With Record-Setting 4-0 Win Over Utah State
4/7/2019 6:55:00 PM | Women's Tennis
USAF ACADEMY, Colo. - The 68th-ranked Air Force women's tennis team defeated Utah State 4-0 in a Mountain West dual Sunday afternoon at the outdoor tennis courts at the Academy. The Falcons set a school record for most wins in the Div. I era, improving to 21-1, 4-0 MW.
The 21 wins surpasses the 20 wins by the 2017 and 1999 teams. The Falcons are one win shy of the school record of 22 set in 1991. The Falcons also sit at 4-0 in MW play for the first time ever.
The Falcons started out by winning the doubles point with wins at No. 1 and 2 doubles. TJ Fumagalli and Kristin Kerrigan won at No. 1 doubles over Alexandra Taylor/Alexandra Pisareva 6-2. Ashleigh Harvey and Meredith Jones won at No. 2 doubles over Lucy Octave/Annaleise County 6-3 to earn the point.
"This team is rock solid in every position, from doubles to singles," head coach Kim Gidley said. "To win the doubles point 19 of 21 matches is just impressive. From week to week we have different teams step up and clinch."
In singles, the Falcons quickly took care of business by going 3-0 in three two set victories to earn the shutout win. Elizabeth Barnickel won at No. 2 singles over Lucy Octave 6-4, 6-1. Kerrigan won at No. 4 singles over Gabrielle Deckkers 7-5, 6-1. Nadeen Lieberman, fresh off her MW Player of the Week honor, won at No. 6 over Alexandra Taylor 6-1, 6-1 for the fourth and game-winning point.
"In singles this team just dominated from the get go, winning five of six first sets" Gidley said. "This team is fun to watch and has great energy. They are very deserving of this record and can continue to achieve more."
Air Force had a special honorary team coach for the Utah State dual. Maj. (Ret.) Robert McAdam, who was the former tennis head coach at Northern Illinois, was the honorary team coach. Dr. McAdam is retired Air Force and a Purple Heart recipient. In WWII, McAdam was a B-17 Navigator who survived being shot down and being held as a P.O.W. in Germany until the war ended. When the Academy was opened in the 1950's, McAdam was sent to the Academy to assist in setting up the initial fitness-testing program. An International Master's Racquetball Hall of Fame member, McAdam, age 98, recently ran a 5K at age 97, beating the age group world record. He did so even though legally blind.
"What a privilege it was for this team to break the Div. I wins record in honor of WWII hero Major (Ret.) Robert McAdams," Gidley said. "It was such an honor that he could be part of the match from start to finish, in addition to performing the coin flip."
The Falcons return to action April 19, Hosting New Mexico.
UTAH STATE vs. #68 AIR FORCE , April 7 - Air Force 4-0
Doubles
TJ Fumagalli/Kristin Kerrigan (AF) def. Alexandra Taylor/Alexandra Pisareva, 6-2
Ashleigh Harvey/Meredith Jones (AF) def. Lucy Octave/Annaleise County, 6-3
Sidney Lavatai/Gabrielle Dekkers def. Nadeen Lieberman/Elizabeth Barnickel (AF) 6-3
Order of finish: 1, 3, 2
Singles
TJ Fumagalli (AF) vs. Alexandra Pisareva, 6-3, 3-3 DNF
Elizabeth Barnickel (AF) def. Lucy Octave 6-4, 6-1
Meredith Jones (AF) vs. Annaleise County 6-7, 2-4 DNF
Kristin Kerrigan (AF) def. Gabrielle Dekkers 7-5, 6-1
Ashleigh Harvey (AF) vs. Sidney Lavatai 7-5, 2-4 DNF
Nadeen Lieberman (AF) def. Alexandra Taylor 6-1, 6-1
Order of finish: 2, 4, 6
The 21 wins surpasses the 20 wins by the 2017 and 1999 teams. The Falcons are one win shy of the school record of 22 set in 1991. The Falcons also sit at 4-0 in MW play for the first time ever.
The Falcons started out by winning the doubles point with wins at No. 1 and 2 doubles. TJ Fumagalli and Kristin Kerrigan won at No. 1 doubles over Alexandra Taylor/Alexandra Pisareva 6-2. Ashleigh Harvey and Meredith Jones won at No. 2 doubles over Lucy Octave/Annaleise County 6-3 to earn the point.
"This team is rock solid in every position, from doubles to singles," head coach Kim Gidley said. "To win the doubles point 19 of 21 matches is just impressive. From week to week we have different teams step up and clinch."
In singles, the Falcons quickly took care of business by going 3-0 in three two set victories to earn the shutout win. Elizabeth Barnickel won at No. 2 singles over Lucy Octave 6-4, 6-1. Kerrigan won at No. 4 singles over Gabrielle Deckkers 7-5, 6-1. Nadeen Lieberman, fresh off her MW Player of the Week honor, won at No. 6 over Alexandra Taylor 6-1, 6-1 for the fourth and game-winning point.
"In singles this team just dominated from the get go, winning five of six first sets" Gidley said. "This team is fun to watch and has great energy. They are very deserving of this record and can continue to achieve more."
Air Force had a special honorary team coach for the Utah State dual. Maj. (Ret.) Robert McAdam, who was the former tennis head coach at Northern Illinois, was the honorary team coach. Dr. McAdam is retired Air Force and a Purple Heart recipient. In WWII, McAdam was a B-17 Navigator who survived being shot down and being held as a P.O.W. in Germany until the war ended. When the Academy was opened in the 1950's, McAdam was sent to the Academy to assist in setting up the initial fitness-testing program. An International Master's Racquetball Hall of Fame member, McAdam, age 98, recently ran a 5K at age 97, beating the age group world record. He did so even though legally blind.
"What a privilege it was for this team to break the Div. I wins record in honor of WWII hero Major (Ret.) Robert McAdams," Gidley said. "It was such an honor that he could be part of the match from start to finish, in addition to performing the coin flip."
The Falcons return to action April 19, Hosting New Mexico.
UTAH STATE vs. #68 AIR FORCE , April 7 - Air Force 4-0
Doubles
TJ Fumagalli/Kristin Kerrigan (AF) def. Alexandra Taylor/Alexandra Pisareva, 6-2
Ashleigh Harvey/Meredith Jones (AF) def. Lucy Octave/Annaleise County, 6-3
Sidney Lavatai/Gabrielle Dekkers def. Nadeen Lieberman/Elizabeth Barnickel (AF) 6-3
Order of finish: 1, 3, 2
Singles
TJ Fumagalli (AF) vs. Alexandra Pisareva, 6-3, 3-3 DNF
Elizabeth Barnickel (AF) def. Lucy Octave 6-4, 6-1
Meredith Jones (AF) vs. Annaleise County 6-7, 2-4 DNF
Kristin Kerrigan (AF) def. Gabrielle Dekkers 7-5, 6-1
Ashleigh Harvey (AF) vs. Sidney Lavatai 7-5, 2-4 DNF
Nadeen Lieberman (AF) def. Alexandra Taylor 6-1, 6-1
Order of finish: 2, 4, 6
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
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