Texas Tech Athletics
Arizona
Lady Raiders Edged Out by Arizona 4-3
February 13, 2009 | Women's Tennis
Feb. 13, 2009
LUBBOCK, Texas - The Texas Tech women's tennis team fell short in a close match 4-3 against Arizona (4-0) Friday at the McLeod Tennis Center.
The Lady Raiders (2-3) took the early advantage by taking the doubles point 2-1. The No. 1 duo of Samantha van der Drift and Kelsy Garland dominated play against Natasha Marks and Claire Rietsch winning 8-4.
Playing in the No. 2 spot for the first time this season, Simone Templeton and Natalie Leitch secured the doubles point for the Lady Raiders. The duo took out Ariane Masschelein and Jane Huh 8-5.
Arizona took the final doubles match as Danielle Steinberg and Sarah Landsman edged out No. 3 Kerryn Potgeiter and Stefanie Peana in a close contest 9-7.
The Wildcats took the first singles match as Landsman defeated No. 4 position Templeton 6-0, 6-0. Tech fired back in the No. 5 match as Peana pounded Rietsch 6-2, 6-2.
The Lady Raiders captured a 3-2 lead with a solid performance in the No. 2 match as Garland beat Masschelein in straight sets 7-5, 6-2. The day continued to go back and forth as the No. 3 match went to three sets as Leitch forced three sets but came up short in the third losing to Marks 1-6, 6-2, 2-6.
The No. 1 match came down to the wire as van der Drift and Steinberg battled it out in a fierce competition that resulted in the third point for the Wildcats as Steinberg pulled out the victory in sets 6-1, 2-6, 7-6(7-2).
The Arizona win tied the score at 3-3, leaving it up to the No. 6 player of Potgeiter versus Castany. Potgeiter won the second set sending the match to three sets but couldn't pull off the victory as she went down 6-4, 6-7, 6-4.
The Lady Raiders continue play against Rice Sunday at 11 a.m., at the McLeod Tennis Center.
Players Mentioned
