Stephen F. Austin
Prairie View A&M
Ladyjacks Defend National Ranking, Move to 6-0
2/24/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
Feb. 24, 2011
NACOGDOCHES, Texas - The No. 71-ranked Stephen F. Austin Ladyjack tennis team battled wind gusts up to 25-miles an hour to defeat Prairie View A&M, 6-0, Thursday afternoon at the Schlief Tennis Complex.
"I'm really proud of our girls this afternoon," said head coach Patrick Sullivan. "These were not ideal conditions to play tennis. We had to battle 25-mile an hour winds, but they came out today and took care of business. We are really happy to get out of here with a win and be 6-0. We will now turn out attention to the matches this weekend."
The win marked the first match in school history SFA has played as a nationally ranked program, and the team's third shutout of the season. SFA is now a perfect 6-0 on the season.
The Ladyjacks won all six singles matches in straight sets, led by the lower third of the order. Senior Meaghan Ocanas was the first player off the court recording a quick 6-0, 6-0, victory over Paige Jackson at No. 6 singles to give SFA its first lead of the day, and it would prove to be the deciding match.
Classmate Alice Pacaut quickly followed Ocanas' win with a 6-0, 6-1 victory over Alix Thomas at No. 5 singles. The Ladyjacks secured the victory when freshman Ksenia Berestetska defeated Prairie View's Alejandra Barrera, 6-3, 6-0, to score the fourth point of the day.
The two schools elected not to play doubles due to the rain that was in the area.
The Ladyjacks return to action Saturday when they travel to Corinth, Texas for a 10 a.m. match against North Central Texas College. The Ladyjacks will then take the short trip over to Plano, for a 3 p.m. match against Collin College. It will be the team's second doubleheader of the season.
-SFA-
