March 27, 2009

LOS ANGELES, CALIF. - The No. 10 USC women's tennis team got a strong upset win over No. 8 California to kick off Pac-10 action for the Trojans, beating the Bears 4-3 at Marks Stadium. The Women of Troy got ahead early on the Bears, going up 4-1 with a set of three straight-set wins capped by #26 Amanda Fink's 6-4-, 6-4 win at the No. 3 position that pushed the senior's singles win streak out to 11 straight. With today's win, USC improves to 14-2 overall and takes a 2-0 start in Pac-10 matches. The Trojans have another big Pac-10 match tomorrow, taking a six-match win streak into a 12 p.m. match with No. 11 Stanford on Saturday (March 28) at Marks Stadium.

Against the Bears, the Trojans plowed through doubles play thanks to a kickoff 8-0 shutout by Alison Ramos / Maria Sanchez over Chang/Ravelojaona at the No. 3 position. Meanwhile, at No. 1, USC's #10 combo of Amanda Fink / Gabriela Niculescu charged past Andersson/Bobusic to take the point for USC with an 8-5 win. At No. 2, USC's #52 Sarah Fansler / Lyndsay Kinstler tacked up a solid upset of Cal's #9 Cossou/Ilcinkas by making some space against the Bears on the way to an 8-5 decision that push the teams into singles play with USC leading 1-0.

Early in singles play, USC's #13 Maria Sanchez had to retire from her No. 1 match against #17 Jana Juricova due to injury. The Bears were even with the Trojans 1-1 after that, but the Women of Troy quickly dashed and Cal's hopes of a comeback. At No. 6, Leyla Entekhabi rolled past Stephany Chang 6-1, 6-1 to make it 2-1. Soon after, #62 Alison Ramos punched through with a 6-2, 6-2 win over Marion Revelojaona at the No. 5 slot. Serving up the deciding win for USC was #26 Amanda Fink, who came back from an 0-2 deficit in the second set and later broke a 4-4 tie with a break and a commanding hold to win her match 6-4, 6-4 and carry the Trojans to victory.

That left two more matches going on the courts. At No. 4, #58 Gabriela Niculescu forced a third-set tiebreaker with a comeback push in the second set. But Cal's #22 Bojana Bobusic fought back in the tiebreak and grabbed the win and a point for Cal with a 6-4, 5-7, 1-0 (11-9) win. At the No. 2 spot, #25 Sarah Fansler and #75 Mari Andersson battled through three full sets, with Andersson coming away with the last win of the day on a 4-6, 6-2, 7-5 win that left the final score a 4-3 USC victory.

#10 USC 4, #8 California 3
March 27, 2009 - Marks Stadium
DOUBLES
(1) #10 Fink/Niculescu (USC) def. Andersson/Bobusic (CAL) - 8-5
(2) #53 Fansler/Kinstler (USC) def. #9 Cossou/Ilcinkas (CAL) - 8-5
(3) Ramos/Sanchez (USC) def. Chang/Ravelojaona (CAL) - 8-0
USC wins doubles point.
Order of finish: 3, 1, 2
SINGLES
(1) #17 Jana Juricova (CAL) def. #13 Maria Sanchez (USC) - 4-1 ret. inj.
(2) #75 Mari Andersson (CAL) def. #25 Sarah Fansler (USC) - 4-6, 6-2, 7-5
(3) #26 Amanda Fink (USC) def. #38 Claire Ilcinkas (CAL) - 6-4, 6-4*
(4) #22 Bojana Bobusic (CAL) def. #58 Gabriela Niculescu (USC) - 6-4, 5-7, 1-0 (11-9)
(5) #62 Alison Ramos (USC) def. Marion Ravelojaona (CAL) - 6-2, 6-2
(6) Leyla Entekhabi (USC) def. Stephany Chang (CAL) - 6-1, 6-1
Order of finish: 1, 5, 6, 3*, 4, 2