No. 29 UNLV
No. 65 Cal Poly Falls to No. 29 UNLV at ITA Kick-Off Event
1/29/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
PALO ALTO, Calif. – The No. 65 Cal Poly women's tennis team claimed the doubles point on Saturday from No. 29 UNLV, but senior Ashley Pane produced the program's lone singles victory as the Mustangs completed play at the ITA Kick-Off Weekend event with a 4-2 consolation-round loss in a four-team regional hosted by top-ranked Stanford at Taube Family Tennis Stadium.
Cal Poly (1-2), making the program's first appearance at the prestigious 60-team event, opened the competition with a 4-0 first-round loss against Stanford on Friday. The Cardinal advanced to February's National Team Indoor Championships with a 6-1 victory against No. 39 Oklahoma later on Saturday.
In doubles action versus UNLV, Pane and junior Jocelyn Davis dropped an 8-2 decision at No. 2 against UNLV's 49th-ranked pairing of Lucia Batta and Anna Maskaljun. However, Cal Poly's 65th-ranked partnership of junior Amy Markhoff and sophomore Alexa Lee defeated Aleksandra Josifoska and Nives Pavlovic, 8-5, before the freshmen tandem of Florence Lehane and Gabrielle Gatewood upended the 58th-ranked team of Jana Albers and Adrienn Hidvegi, 9-7.
In singles play, Pane (above) downed Pavlovic, 7-6 (5), 6-1. Lee, however, was swept at No. 1 by the 41st-ranked Batta, 6-1, 6-4, before Webb fell at No. 6 versus Maskaljun, 6-3, 6-2. At No. 2, Josifoska swept Lehane, 7-5, 6-3, before Hidvegi completed UNLV's shortened victory by coming from behind at No. 5 to down Davis, 4-6, 6-1, 6-2. Freshman Jennifer Cornea's match at No. 4 versus Albers was abandoned with the decision complete.
"UNLV proved a little too tough in singles play, but I felt good about how we performed and liked our fight," 11th-year Cal Poly head coach High Bream said. "I also felt good about playing such a highly-ranked opponent so close early during the season. It bodes well for an optimistic season for such a young squad."
Cal Poly returns to Mustang Courts on Friday, Feb. 4 to host Division II Cal State Stanislaus for a 1:30 p.m. dual.
