No. 23 SMU Women's Tennis Blanks UTPA, 5-0

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From SMUMustangs.com:

No. 23 SMU Women's Tennis Blanks UTPA, 5-0
Mustangs Perfect Against Broncs, Host SFA At 11 a.m. Saturday

Jan. 22, 2010

DALLAS (SMU) - The No. 23 SMU Women's Tennis team (1-0) began the 2009 spring season in impressive fashion on Friday afternoon blanking UTPA, 5-0, at Turpin Tennis Stadium. The Mustangs were bolstered by strong play at the top of the lineup in both singles and doubles.

The shorthanded Broncos were no match for SMU in doubles action as they were only able to take two games in the two contests. The 30th-ranked duo of Marta Lesniak and Aleksandra Malyarchikova made quick work of Megan Bedeau and Luisa Cantu, 8-0, at the top doubles line. Moments later Pavi Francis and Sophie Quist downed Sarah Burton and Nina Ciric, 8-2, at the No. 2 spot to claim the doubles point and the early 1-0 lead.

Singles play featured much of the same dominance from the Mustangs. Malyarchikova, ranked No. 76 in the latest ITA singles rankings, was first off the court at the No. 2 spot when she downed Cantu, 6-0, 6-2. Lesniak strengthened SMU's lead with her, 6-2, 6-1, win over Bedeau at the top singles line. The sophomore is ranked No. 47 in the latest rankings, the highest ranking for a Mustang player since 1993.

Freshman Shahzoda Hatamova sealed the win for SMU with her first collegiate dual match victory at the No. 4 spot. Hatamova took out Burton in dominating fashion as well, 6-1, 6-1. Sophie Quist won her singles match by default, giving the Mustangs the ultimate 5-0 win.

"Today was a good start for us as we begin a long weekend of matches," said head coach Lauren Longbotham Meisner. "The conditions were pretty windy, but the team adapted well. We hope to take the same energy that we had today into our next matches."

The Mustangs return to action Saturday as they host Stephen F. Austin 11 a.m. followed by a doubleheader on Sunday as SMU faces Louisiana Tech at 9 a.m. and Texas State at 2 p.m. The Mustangs then head to NCAA Regional Indoor Championships on Jan. 29-30 in Gainesville, Fla. SMU faces Florida International in the first round and then Florida or BYU in the second match.

SMU 5, UTPA 0
DOUBLES
No. 30 Lesniak/Malyarchikova def. Megan Bedeau/Luisa Cantu - 8-0
Francis/Quist def. Sarah Burton/Nina Ciric - 8-2
Dubs Order of finish: 2,1

SINGLES
No. 47 Lesniak def. Bedeau - 6-2, 6-1
No. 76 Malyarchikova def. Cantu - 6-0, 6-2
Francis v Ciric - 6-4, 1-0 DNF
Hatamova def. Burton - 6-1, 6-1
Briceno v Andrea Salvetova - 6-3, 5-4 DNF
Quist wins by default
Singles Order of finish: 2,1,4