University of Washington
Arizona
Krsljanin Clinches 4-3 Pac-10 Win Over Arizona
March 27, 2011 | Women's Tennis
March 27, 2011
SEATTLE - The way the past month has gone for the Husky women's tennis team, every victory now tastes all the sweeter. Washington was all smiles today as it pieced together a 4-3 victory over 31st-ranked Arizona at the Nordstrom Tennis Center. The conference win was just what the doctor ordered for the Huskies (11-8, 2-4 Pac-10), who have battled on despite a depleted roster for several weeks now. Arizona fell to 15-4 and 2-1 in conference.
The match came down to the fourth singles court, where senior Aleksandra Krsljanin was up a set on Arizona's Kim Stubbe. Neither player was able to hold serve consistently in the second set, and both were playing a waiting game in many points, rallying patiently and trying to outlast the other. After breaking for a 5-3 second set lead, Krsljanin finally held to close out a 6-1, 6-3 victory that broke the 3-3 tie.
Doubles was critical early as UW took two of three matches, including the No. 1 match in a tiebreak, then Washington's All-American duo completely dominated the top two Wildcats to extend the Husky lead in singles play. 5th-ranked Denise Dy rolled to a 6-1, 6-0 victory over Natasha Marks at the top singles spot. At second singles, 23rd-ranked Venise Chan was even stingier, as she took down Sarah Landsman, 6-0, 6-0.
"We were relieved to pull that one out. We knew today that the doubles point would be very important, to be able to win that was huge for us," said head coach Jill Hultquist. "`Smiley' (Krsljanin) then getting that win was so big.
As for Chan and Dy, it was more of the same, as they both improve to 17-1 in dual play for the year. They also both defeated Top-20 singles players on Arizona State on Friday for UW's only two points in that match.
"Venise and Denise have been solid throughout the whole season. It's been difficult with players out, because it makes us just rely on them even more and puts more pressure on them, and they've handled it really well," says Hultquist. "If we win the doubles point we know we just have to get one more win in the lineup, which puts our minds at ease in this challenging time."
The doubles point came down to the No. 1 match between Chan and Samantha Smith and Arizona's Marks and Landsman. Arizona had taken the No. 3 match, 8-2, but Dy and Krsljanin evened the point with an 8-4 victory at second doubles over Smyth and Stubbe. In the No. 1 match, Chan and Smith trailed early, 1-4, but rallied back to get even at 5-5. From there the two teams broke each other back and forth until UW finally held for an 8-7 lead. But Arizona forced a tiebreak with a hold of its own. Chan and Smith then proceeded to reel off the first five points of the tiebreak, and cruised to a 7-1 victory.
Arizona came back with singles wins at three, five, and six. Lacey Smyth topped Samantha Smith, 6-1, 6-3, at three singles to tie the match at 3-3. Senior Vanja Radunovic dropped a 6-2, 6-1 decision to Susan McRann at No. 5 and freshman Kelli Feeley was shut out at sixth singles by UA senior Jane Huh.
Washington has one last home match remaining, next Saturday, April 2, against Sacramento State at 11 a.m. The Huskies will honor their three seniors during the match, as Chan, Radunovic, and Krsljanin will make their final home appearance.
Washington Women's Tennis
March 27, 2011 - Seattle, Wash.
Nordstrom Tennis Center
No. 27 Washington 4, No. 31 Arizona 3
Doubles
1) Chan/Smith (UW) def. Marks/Landsman (Ariz), 9-8 (1)
2) Dy/Krsljanin (UW) def. Smyth/Stubbe (Ariz), 8-4
3) McRann/Huh (Ariz) def. Radunovic/Feeley (UW), 8-2
Order of Finish: 3, 2, 1
Singles
1) (5) Denise Dy (UW) def. Natasha Marks (Ariz), 6-1, 6-0
2) (23) Venise Chan (UW) def. Sarah Landsman (Ariz), 6-0, 6-0
3) Lacey Smyth (Ariz) def. Samantha Smith (UW), 6-1, 6-3
4) Aleksandra Krsljanin (UW) def. Kim Stubbe (Ariz), 6-1, 6-3
5) Susan McRann (Ariz) def. Vanja Radunovic (UW), 6-2, 6-1
6) Jane Huh (Ariz) def. Kelli Feeley (UW), 6-0, 6-0
Order of Finish: 6, 2, 1, 5, 3, 4
Players Mentioned
