Women's Tennis Bounces Back with Win Over Miami

Friday, February 20

Louisville, Ky.

3:00 PM

University of Louisville

Miami (OH)

February 20, 2009 | Women's Tennis

Feb. 20, 2009

The University of Louisville women's tennis team defeated the Miami (Oh.) RedHawks 4-3 Friday night at the Bass-Rudd Tennis Center.

The win is the third of the season for the Cardinals at home.

"This is the team I am used to seeing," U of L head coach Mark Beckham said. "They showed a lot of heart. They fought through a difficult situation. Even with the bad luck we have been having, today they found a way to get that win. This win is very special. Hopefully we can build on it and get us going in the right direction. All of our goals are still ahead of us and we can still accomplish a lot of things. We have to get on a bit of a streak ourselves but we can do it."

The Cards fell behind early, dropping two of three in doubles play. The Louisville duo of senior Lindsey Jones and junior Jo-Ann Van Aerde defeated Anastasia Dracheva and Monica Gorny 8-5 for Cardinals' lone win. Seniors Natalia Baez and Bianca Gorbea fell to Stephanie Danesis and Megan Martzolf 8-4 while freshmen Sarah Miller and Amelia Harris lost to Riekie Honiball and Britney Larson 8-4.

In singles play, Louisville took four of the six courts to win the match. Van Aerde clinched the win with a 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 marathon victory over Martzolf.

"I have to give credit to Jo-Ann for pulling the match out for us," Beckham said. "She very well could have gotten nervous and let that match slip away but she fought off the nerves and did a really good job for us today."

Also getting wins for the Cards were junior Lauren Imre, Baez and Miller. Imre defeated Danesis 6-2, 1-6, 6-0, while Baez knocked off Larson 6-3, 6-3 and Miller beat Honiball 6-4, 7-5. In other action, Jones fell to Gorny 6-3, 6-3 while Gorbea lost 6-4, 6-1 to Dracheva.

"Everybody did their part today," Beckham said. "That is another thing I like about this team. Everyone knows their role and do what they can do for us to get a win."

The Cards will return to action tomorrow at the Bass-Rudd Tennis Center at 2 p.m against North Texas State.

Singles
1.   Monica Gorny (MU) d. Lindsey Jones (UL) 6-3, 6-32.  Anastasia Dracheva (MU) d. Bianca Gorbea (UL) 6-4, 6-13.  Lauren Imre (UL) d. Stephanie Danesis (MU) 6-2, 1-6, 6-04.  Natalia Baez (UL) d. Britney Larson (MU) 6-3, 6-3.5.  Jo-Ann Van Aerde (UL) d. Megan Martzolf (MU) 6-3, 3-6, 6-46.  Sarah Miller (UL) d. Riekie Honiball (MU) 6-4, 7-5
Doubles1.  Danesis/Martzolf (MU) d. Gorbea/Baez (UL) 8-42.  Jones/Van Aerde (UL) d. Dracheva/Gorny (MU) 8-53.  Honiball/Larson (MU) d. Miller/Harris (UL) 8-4