Sept. 23, 2013
Big Easy Tennis Classic result 
NEW ORLEANS, La. - The Louisiana Tech tennis team started the fall season off in impressive fashion with finals appearances in doubles and two flights in singles to take the team title at the Big Easy Tennis Classic hosted by UNO at the University Tennis Center in New Orleans, La.
The event started on Friday with the Lady Techsters going undefeated on the day, but constant rain on Saturday pushed several matches to Sunday where LA Tech shined once again.
"I'm very proud of my players," acting head coach Katherine Reigelman said. "The week started with a coaching transition and continued with weather delays during the tournament, but ended in an impressive team victory.
"Opportunities for excuses presented themselves, but they remained focused. We have a young team, but you would not know it in their action and play. The future of Lady Techster tennis is bright."
In Flight 1 singles, No. 4 seed Alexandra Starkova found herself in the finals against her fellow teammate and No. 2 seed Joanna Nalborska.
Starkova defeated Harshini Reddy (JSU) 6-2, 6-1 and Anna Segarra Ruis (UNO) 6-2, 6-4 before upsetting the No. 1 seed Medy Blankvoort (ULM) 3-6, 6-3, 10-6 in the semis to reach the finals.
Nalborska notched three straight sets wins over Alex Johansson (NOVA SE) 6-3, 6-4, Lyubov Dorofeeva (Troy) 6-3, 6-3 and No. 3 seed Soledad Calderon (UNO) 6-4, 6-2, creating the showdown of Techsters that saw Starkova become victorious in a marathon battle, 7-6, 6-7, 11-9.
LA Tech teammates were forced to meet each other again in Flight 2 singles when Melanie Urvoy and Jazmin Britos advanced to the semifinals on the same side of the bracket.
Urvoy took a 6-4, 6-3 victory against Alex Kaesar (NOVA SE) in the first round. The senior was up 4-3 versus the No. 2 seed Anja Cosovic (Troy), but Cosovic retired due to injury to give Urvoy a spot in the semis.
Britos defeated Karina Gurgenyan (USM) 7-5, 6-2 and No. 3 seed Hafsa Laraibi (UNO) 6-2, 3-6, 10-3 before winning a third-set tiebreaker against Urvoy to advance to the finals where the championship match was not played due to a limit of games played in one day by a player.
In Flight 3 singles, Taly Merker had two dominant performances of 6-1, 6-0 over Angie Condorelli (JSU) and 6-1, 6-1 and Amina Mrad (UNO) 6-1, 6-1, but fell in the semifinals 7-6, 6-2 to Olivia Durden (Troy).
The women's doubles was cut short as well, but not before LA Tech's duo of Nalborska and Starkova reached the semifinals and the tandem of Urvoy and Britos the finals.
The Techsters return to the courts next weekend (Sept. 27-29) when they participate in the Rice Invitational at the Jake Hess Tennis Stadium in Houston, Texas.
For complete coverage of LA Tech Tennis, please follow @LATechTEN on twitter or visit the official home of Louisiana Tech Athletics at www.LATechSports.com.
