INDIANAPOLIS, Ind., April 14 - Southern Utah split a
pair of tennis matches Saturday but the win was a big one as the Thunderbirds
posted a 4-3 win over South Dakota State in the regular-season finale' to claim
the fourth spot in The Summit League tournament.
SUU lost a 4-0 decision to league-leading Oral Roberts in a
morning match played at West Indianapolis Racquet Club. After the Golden Eagles
won the doubles point the coaches agreed to play only until the match was
decided, which wound up being a sound strategy for the Thunderbirds, who had
the critical match with South Dakota State slated for the afternoon.
SUU got off to a good start against SDSU, winning the doubles
point, which wound up a crucial point in the Thunderbird win. Alex Ivanova and
Olia Tatarchenko defeated Brooke Henry and Jenny Blackburne, 8-6, at No. 1
doubles while Ksusha Johnson and Lisa Pleskan upended Megan McDouogal and Bryna
Nasenbeny, 8-5, at the second spot to claim the point for the Thunderbirds.
In singles SUU swept first through third singles, with
Tatartchenko dispatching Henry 6-0, 6-3 at No. 3 to make it 2-0 SUU and Johnson
getting past Nasenbeny 6-4, 6-2, to give the Thunderbirds a 3-0 lead. Ivanova
had to go three sets against Blackburn to clinch the win, but she prevailed
6-1, 2-6, 6-4.
Pleskan and Afton Staheli also battled but both lost in three
sets, as McDougall outlasted Pleskan, 3-6, 6-6, 6-2 and Natalia Medina was able
to get past Staheli, 3-6, 6-4, 6-3.
SUU is now off until the Summit League tournament, which
begins April 27 in Kansas City. The Thunderbirds will face Oral Roberts in the
first round of the tourney.
Tennis Match Results
Southern Utah vs. Oral Roberts
Apr 14, 2012 at Indianapolis, Ind.
Oral Roberts 4, Southern Utah 0
Singles-
#1 - Iryna Khatsko (ORU) def.
Ksusha Johnson (SUU) 6-1, 6-3
#2 - Alex Ivanova (SUU) led Lina
Semenova (ORU) 3-1
#3 - Olia Tatarchenko (SUU) led Haley
Martin (ORU) 6-4, 4-3
#4 - Kristin Gray (ORU) and Lisa Pleskan
(SUU) DNP
#5 - Marizanne Bouwer (ORU) def. Afton
Staheli (SUU) 6-3, 6-2
#6 - Tori Dollar (ORU) won by default
Order of finish: 6, 5, 1
Doubles-
#1 - Martin/Semenova (ORU) led
Ivanova/Tatarchenko (SUU) 4-3
#2 - Khatsko/Gray (ORU) def.
Johnson/Pleskan (SUU) 8-1
#3 - Bouwer/Dollar (ORU) won by default
Order of finish: 3, 2
Tennis Match Results
South Dakota State University vs
Southern Utah
Apr 14, 2012 at Indianapolis, Ind.
Southern Utah 4, South Dakota State
University 3
Singles
1. Ksusha Johnson (SUU) def. Bryna
Nasenbeny (SDSUW) 6-4, 6-2
2. Alex Ivanova (SUU) def. Jenny
Blackburne (SDSUW) 6-1, 2-6, 6-4
3. Olia Tatarchenko (SUU) def. Brooke
Henry (SDSUW) 6-0, 6-3
4. Megan McDougall (SDSUW) def. Lisa
Pleskan (SUU) 3-6, 6-4, 6-2
5. Natalia Medina (SDSUW) def. Afton
Staheli (SUU) 3-6, 6-4, 6-3
6. Anna Botzet (SDSUW) def. No player
(SUU), by default
Doubles
1. Alex Ivanova/Olia Tatarchenko (SUU)
def. Brooke Henry/Jenny Blackburne (SDSUW) 8-6
2. Lisa Pleskan/Ksusha Johnson (SUU)
def. Megan McDougall/Bryna Nasenbeny (SDSUW) 8-5
3. Bethany Goeden/Natalia Medina
(SDSUW) def. No player/No player (SUU), by default
