May 14, 2008
DAY 3 RESULTS
MOBILE, Ala--The favorites held serve in the quarterfinals of the 2008 NAIA Women's Tennis National Championship, as the top four seeds Auburn-Montgomery, Fresno Pacific, Lindsey Wilson and Vanguard all advanced to the semifinals Thursday at 9:00 am at the Copeland-Cox Tennis Center.
Top-seeded Auburn-Montgomery began the day by cruising into the next round with a 5-0 victory over Embry-Riddle. The Lady Senators swept doubles by a combined tally of 24-5 and then allowed Embry-Riddle to take only two games in the No. 3 and No. 6 singles victories to clinch the match.
Fresno Pacific did the same by shutting out Berry College 5-0, and then Lindsey Wilson punched its ticket to day four with a 5-0 blanking of California Baptist, allowing the Lady Lancers of Cal Baptist only four games in doubles action.
The best match of the day belonged to a pair of schools that are very familiar with each other, both hailing from California, as 4th-seeded Vanguard defeated 5th-seed Azusa Pacific 5-2 by overcoming a sluggish start in doubles play.
Azusa jumped out to a 2-1 lead by taking two-of-three doubles matches, but that was up in the air till late with the No. 1 doubles matchup coming down to the wire. The Cougars' Sheryl Bon and Bay Daniels battled with Hana Jurcovicova and Damia Donkervoort to a 9-7 victory. Azusa led early 4-1, before the pair from Vanguard battled back to notch the match at 6-6. Azusa pulled away for the win.
The lone doubles win for the Lions came when the No. 2 doubles tandem of Jelena Jovic and Betyel Tesfa won 8-1.
Needing a strong showing in singles play, the Lions came out and took the first set in all six matches to set the tone for the rest of the matchup. Tesfa defeated Casey Wetzig in No. 2 singles to tie the match at 2-2 and later Donkervoort picked up the clinching victory by cruising to a 6-1 victory in the second set after having to battle to a 7-6(2) victory in the opening frame versus Katy Jelsma.
Thursday's matches will pit No. 1 Auburn-Montgomery v. No. 4 Vanguard and No. 3 Lindsey Wilson v. No. 2 Fresno Pacific. AUM, Lindsey Wilson and Fresno Pacific all reached the semifinals last season, while Vanguard lost 5-2 to Lindsey Wilson in the quarterfinals.
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