Murray State University Athletics
Murray State
UT Chattanooga Fall Classic
Women?s Tennis Puts Together Strong Weekend at Steve Baras Collegiate Fall Classic
9/23/2008 5:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
The Murray State women's tennis team kicked off the Fall season last weekend as they brought home one championship from the Steve Baras Collegiate Fall Classic hosted by UT Chattanooga.
The duo of senior Adriana Alvarez and junior Lyndsay Ottosen were the top seed in the B1 Flight. After receiving a first-round bye, they cruised to an 8-3 victory in their first match before advancing through the semifinals with an 8-5 victory.
In the finals, Alvarez and Ottosen jumped out to a 5-2 advantage against Annie Green and Briana Wishing of UTC before the homestanding team won the next five games to take a 7-5 advantage. The Racers did not lose their composure as they were able to pull even and force a tie breaker, which they won 8-6 to capture the championship.
They were not the only doubles team to have a solid weekend as senior Anne Pennington and freshman Cassidy Cunitz advanced to the finals of the A1 Flight. The duo moved through their half of the bracket with an 8-4 victory in the first round and then recorded a pair of 8-3 victories en route to the finals. The duo ran into a tough opponent from Southern Illinois that handed the Racers a tough 8-5 defeat.
"I was really impressed with the way our doubles teams played," said head coach Connie Keasling. "We felt that one of our weaknesses last year was our singles play so we have concentrated heavy on that. To have the team come out and play the way they did in doubles is a great testament to how hard they worked in the offseason and how much they have matured."
Ottosen also enjoyed success in singles action as she breezed her way into the finals of the C1 Flight. She opened up things with a 6-0, 6-1 victory and followed it up with a 6-1, 6-0 victory in the quarterfinals. In the semifinals, Ottosen ran into top-seeded Anna Djannanova from Middle Tennessee and won the first set 6-1. The second set was much more difficult, but Ottosen was able to win the tie breaker 7-3 to advance to the finals. Ottosen would eventually fall to second seed Jemma Euers of Eastern Kentucky in the finals.
Sophomore Ashley Pierson also enjoyed success in singles action as she picked up a pair of victories before dropping a three-set decision in the semifinals.
The team returns to action this weekend as they travel to Tuscaloosa, Ala. for the Alabama Fall Classic on Sept. 26-28.
