Feb. 21, 2009
Final Stats
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - The Kennesaw State women's tennis team dropped another close match on Saturday, falling 4-3 to Florida A&M in a battle that saw four of six singles matches decided in a third set.
The Owls, who had a short turnaround following a 7-0 win over Alabama State in Kennesaw on Friday, fell to 3-5 on the season and were once again denied their first winning streak. FAMU moved to 3-3 with the win.
"Some of our younger players still have not figured out that you have to actually want to win in order to be successful at this level," said Kennesaw State Head Coach Brandon Padgett on the loss. "The coaching staff cannot put heart and fight into our players, it has to be intrinsic."
Things looked good early for the Owls as they came out strong to win all three doubles matches and secure the early 1-0 lead. Agatha Palider and MacKenzie Swindall were victorious once again, blanking Alexis Brown and Britney Dean 8-0 at No. 3 to improve their record to 4-1.
Kennesaw State's other two doubles teams also won their second-straight matches as Ayano Tanaka and Vera Shkundina took a 9-7 decision at No. 1 and Morgan Carney and Alena Sergeychik won 8-4 at No. 2.
The singles competition was a battle from the start, lasting over three hours before the Rattlers emerged victorious. Swindall won her second singles match in two days, cruising past Dean 6-3, 6-3 at No. 6 to move the Owls lead to 2-0.
Kathline Durden pulled FAMU back into the match shortly after, overcoming Carney 7-5, 6-1 in an all-freshman showdown at No. 3 to put the score at 2-1 in favor of KSU. Alexis Brown continued the Rattlers charge, overcoming Sergeychik's 6-3 first set win to tie the score at 2-2.
Ayano Tanaka quickly put the Owls back into the lead, earning a three-set win over Latreece Olagbegi at No. 2. Tanaka won the first set 6-3 before Olagbegi tied it with a 6-3 win of her own in the second. The Owls sophomore showed the determination that earned her an Atlantic Sun Conference All-Freshman selection last season, outlasting the Rattlers No. 2 6-4 to claim the match.
Rachel Pye ended Shkundina's four-match winning streak with a 7-6 (4), 3-6, 6-4 win at No. 1 to tie the teams at 3-3 and put all eyes on the No. 4 match featuring Alice Izomor and Agatha Palider.
Izomor cruised to an early lead with a 6-1 first set win before Palider settled down and won the second 6-2. With the pressure on, the Rattlers' junior showed her experience, winning the third set 6-4 to give FAMU the win.
The Owls will return to action on Friday February 27th when they take on Murray State at the KSU Tennis complex. The match is scheduled to start at 3 p.m. and is free to attend.
Doubles Results
#1: Shkundina/Tanaka (KSU) def. Pye/Olagbegi (FAMU) 9-7
#2: Carney/Sergeychik (KSU) def. Izomor/Durden 8-4 (FAMU)
#3: Palider/Swindall (KSU) def. Brown/Dean (FAMU) 8-0
Singles Results
#1: Rachel Pye def. Vera Shkundina 7-6(4), 3-6, 6-4
#2: Ayano Tanaka def. Latreece Olagbegi 6-3, 3-6, 6-4
#3: Kathline Durden def. Morgan Carney 7-5, 6-1
#4: Alice Izomor def. Agatha Palider 6-1, 2-6, 6-4
#5: Alexis Brown def. Alena Sergeychik 3-6, 6-0, 7-5
#6: MacKenzie Swindall def. Britney Dean 6-3, 6-3
