Depth keeps Skyhawk netters perfect in OVC

Posted: Wednesday, March 28, 2012 12:00 pm

The University of Tennessee at Martin tennis team improved to 3-0 in Ohio Valley Conference play with a 4-3 victory over in-state rival Austin Peay Sunday afternoon at the Skyhawk Varsity Courts.
“Today’s match was definitely the toughest OVC match we have played this year,” Skyhawk head coach Dennis Taylor said. “We knew going in that Austin Peay had one of the top three teams in the conference this year. They are a hard-hitting team and are coached well. This was a huge win for us and I am certain it will help the girls’ confidence going into the tough matches ahead.”
UT Martin (4-8 overall) earned the doubles point to start off the match. Jodie Tiley and Ivon Simic downed Vanja Tomic and Alison Carre 8-6 at No. 1, while Katie McCall and Johanie Van Zyl picked up an 8-3 win at No. 3 over Vanessa Tavarez and Jovana Karak.
In singles action, the Skyhawks tallied wins at No. 4, No. 5 and No. 6. Simic held off Andrea Cornea 6-4, 7-5 at No. 4, while Anna Marie Herbold chalked up a 6-0, 6-1 win at No. 5 over Karak. At No. 6, Alice Laing defeated Vanessa Tavarez in straight sets (6-2, 6-2).
Taylor was impressed with his team’s composure this afternoon against Austin Peay, who also entered the match with a 2-0 OVC mark.
“I think the difference in the match today was how well our players played under pressure,” Taylor said. “They never seem to be tense or rattled even in the most crucial situations. I wish I could say the same for me; I’m as tight as a banjo string most of the time.”
The Skyhawks will put their perfect OVC mark on the line this Saturday, when they host Murray State at 2 p.m.
———
UT Martin 4, Austin Peay 3
Singles
1. Tomic, Vanja (APSU) def. Tiley, Jodie (UTM) 6-0, 6-4.
2. Di Salvo, Ornella (APSU) def. Van Zyl, Johanie (UTM) 6-3, 4-6, 10-7.
3. Carre, Alison (APSU) def. Winkelman, Anna (UTM) 7-5, 6-2.
4. Simic, Ivon (UTM) def. Cornea, Andra (APSU) 6-4, 7-5.
5. Herbold, Anna Marie (UTM) def. Karak, Jovana (APSU) 6-0, 6-1.
6. Laing, Alice (UTM) def. Tavarez, Vanessa (APSU) 6-2, 6-2.
Doubles
1. Tiley, Jodie/Simic, Ivon (UTM) def. Tomic, Vanja/Carre, Alison (APSU) 8-6.
2. Cornea, Andra/Di Salvo, Ornella (APSU) def. Herbold, Anna Marie/Laing, Alice (UTM) 8-2.
3. McCall, Katie/Van Zyl, Johanie (UTM) def. Tavarez, Vanessa/Karak, Jovana (APSU) 8-3. Published in The WCP 3.27.12