April 11, 2010
Box Score
RUSTON--The Lady Techster tennis team defeated San Jose State 5-2 Saturday at the Lady Techster Tennis Complex to record the first ever Western Athletic Conference team match win for Louisiana Tech.
"It felt great and I know the girls were ecstatic about making history," Tech head coach Quintin Yray said. "I have to say I'm very proud of the girls today. Not just because they won their first conference match, but for how they did it."
The Techsters split doubles wins with San Jose in the numbers one and two spots meaning the doubles point would be awarded to whichever team won in the number three spot.
The number three team of sophomore Maartje de Wit and freshman Alena Erofeyeva trailed early 7-2 before storming back and almost winning the match, but ultimately falling 8-6 and dropping the doubles point.
Tech could have suffered a letdown after the close doubles loss, but instead dug down deeper as they have been doing all year and pulled out the biggest match of their season.
The Techsters went on to win five out of the six singles matches to win the overall team match 5-2, a huge improvement from a year ago when Tech fell to San Jose 7-0.
Freshmen Vivian ten Dolle and Cecile Vichery each won their singles match in the numbers one and two positions respectively. Ten Dolle winning hers 6-1, 6-1 while Vichery took her match 6-3, 6-2. Fellow freshman Erofeyeva topped San Jose's number three position player by a score of 6-4, 6-1 while sophomore Laura Rodriguez beat her opponent in the five spot 6-2, 6-4. Junior Rocio Juarez rounded out the Tech wins with a 4-6, 6-4 (10-3) win in the six position. In a tough, hard fought match de Wit was unable to pull out a win falling 6-3, 2-6, 2-6 in the four spot.
"All the girls played so well," Yray said. "Cecile Vichery played unbelievable considering the sprain she suffered just the other day. Her opponent was a tough and very consistent double-handed player who did not seem to miss. The fact that she was able to stay out and take that punishment was just amazing. We have to thank our great athletic trainers for all the work they did to prepare her for this match."
The Techsters will now prepare to take on Fresno State, Utah State and Idaho in Boise next weekend to close out regular season WAC play.
