April 7, 2007
WACO, Texas - Baylor's women tennis team, ranked No. 20, eeked out a 4-3 victory over 19th-ranked Pepperdine on Saturday. The match was moved to the covered courts in Ennis, Texas, due to cold weather and snow in Waco.
Baylor, winners of seven straight, moves to 15-6 on the season while Pepperdine saw its six-match win streak halted and is now 14-8 overall.
In addition to the victory, it was a special weekend for the tennis program. For the first time in program history the women who participated in the program prior to it becoming an NCAA sanctioned sport were recognized. The recognition was part of an entire weekend of reunion activities. Numerous former players attending the reunion made the trek to Ennis to support the team. "It was so awesome to have so many former players back for the reunion," said head coach Joey Scrivano. "Then, quite a few were able to go to Ennis to watch. Our girls really wanted to make the alumni proud of the program and show how much they appreciated them. I know that having them there really aided us in posting the win."
The outcome of the contest was in doubt until the very last match when senior Iva Mihaylova clinched the win with a 2-6, 6-4, 6-2 win at No. 6 singles, extending her win streak to 10 matches. Senior Klara Zrustova evened the match at 3-3 with her straight-sets win at No. 5 over Tania Rice 6-0, 6-4. The victory marked Zrustova's 100th career win. Also posting singles wins for the Bears were freshman Lenka Broosova and junior Zuzana Cerna. Broosova raised her team-leading record to 28-8 and won her seventh consecutive match while Cerna extended her singles win streak to 10.
For the first time this season the squad posted a victory after losing the doubles point. Baylor's lone doubles win came at the No. 3 spot when 52nd-ranked Zuzana Zemenova and Mihaylova downed Jillian Braverman and Anete Bandere 8-6.
"It was great to win the match after losing the doubles point," said Scrivano. "I think we showed today that we have great depth, we have quality player at all six spots in the lineup."
The Bears will return to action on Wednesday, April 11 when they travel to College Station, Texas, to take on the Texas A&M Aggies. The match is slated to begin at 6 p.m.
#20 Baylor 4, #19 Pepperdine 3
Doubles
Order of Finish: 1,3,2
1. Kosakowski/Sabate (Pep) def. Chmelarova/Cerna (BU) 8-2
2. Dickes/Bianca Dulgheru (Pep) def. #36 Broosova/Zrustova (BU) 8-5
3. #52 Zemenova/Mihaylova (BU) def. Braverman/Bandere (Pep) 8-6
Singles
Order of Finish: 2,3,4,1,5,6
1. #56 Sylvia Kosakowski (Pep) def. #28 Zuzana Zemenova (BU) 4-6, 7-6(4), 7-5
2. #54 Zuzana Cerna (BU) def. #95 Katia Sabate (Pep) 6-3, 6-0
3. #77 Lenka Broosova (BU) def. Eva Dickes (Pep) 3-6, 6-3, 6-2
4. Anete Bandere (Pep) def. Zuzana Chmelarova (BU) 6-4, 2-6, 6-2
5. Klara Zrustova (BU) def. Tania Rice (Pep) 6-0, 6-4
6. Iva Mihaylova (BU) def. Jillian Braverman (Pep) 2-6, 6-4, 6-2
