Texas Tech Athletics
Alabama
Texas Tech Rolls over Crimson Tide
January 28, 2007 | Women's Tennis
Jan. 28, 2007
LUBBOCK, Texas - The Texas Tech women's tennis team squared off today against Alabama at the Lubbock Country Club, the second meeting between the two. Senior captain Lakann Wagley took the reigns of the match securing key victories in both singles and doubles.
The Lady Raiders entered the match with full force, looking to retaliate after being swept by the Crimson Tide last season 4-0. The team returned to old ways, and in good fashion, as they began the day with doubles competition.
The first win came from Janet Durham and Maria Jose Andres in the No. 3 spot, as they defeated Alabama's Shelley Godwin and Bianca Svensson, 8-6. Getting Tech's only doubles win on Friday, the duo of Samantha van der Drift and Kerryn Potgieter were unable to hold off the Crimson Tide losing 8-5. In the final match of the day it was the battle of the No. 1's, with the doubles point on the line. Tech's Lakann Wagley and Anne Sophie Fankam got the best of Alabama's Andrea Brenes and Mari Muller, taking the win and securing the doubles point for the Raiders, 8-5.
In singles action, the Lady Raiders continued to dominate as big wins came from van der Drift and Durham, who both start the season undefeated. Sophomore van der Drift took down Alabama senior Mari Muller 6-1, 6-3. Durham ran into a hiccup in the second set but quickly bounced back defeating Nicole Briceno, giving Tech their third match point.
The match of the day came from the No. 2 court as Wagley battled with sophomore Shelley Godwin. The experience played in the favor of Wagley as she pulled herself out of a first set loss and evened it up in a tie breaker in the second set. She continued to play smart tennis controlling the tempo of the match in the third set, finally pulling away for the personal and team win.
"Lakann's match was a huge momentum change for us," said Coach Cari Groce. "We knew going into this that Alabama's Goldwin was their best player, and Lakann had to make some changes in her game throughout the match. Her teammates saw her fight and make a comeback after being down, and that was a huge win for her and our team."
The Lady Raiders will be back on the courts next weekend as they host Prairie View A&M, UTEP and New Mexico. For more information and complete results visit www.texastech.com.
Texas Tech, 5, Alabama, 2
Doubles: 3, 2, 1*
Andres/Durham (TTU) def. Godwin/Svensson (UA), 8-6
Bigos/Briceno (UA) def. Potgieter/van der Drift (TTU), 8-5
Fankam/Wagley (TTU) def. Brenes/Muller (UA), 8-6
Singles: 4, 1, 3, 2*, 5, 6
Andrea Brenes (UA) def. Kerryn Potgieter (TTU), 6-3, 6-2
Samantha van der Drift (TTU) def. Mari Muller (UA), 6-1, 6-3
Janet Durham (TTU) def Nicole Briceno (UA), 6-2, 5-7, 6-1
Lakann Wagley (TTU) def. Shelley Godwin (UA), 2-6, 7-6 (8-6), 6-4
Alice Tunaru (UA) def. Anne Sophie Fankam(TTU), 6-4, 7-6 (7-5)
Maria Jose Andres (TTU) def. Bianca Svensson (UA), 7-5, 4-6, (10-7)
Players Mentioned
