University of Arizona
USC
Marker & Preston beat ranked foes, but Cats fall to No.1 USC
04/04/2015 | Women's Tennis
TUCSON, Ariz. – The 41st ranked Arizona women's tennis team fell to the top-ranked USC Trojans today 5-2. There were some bright spots however, as No. 80 Lauren Marker defeated 11th ranked Giuliana Olmos and No. 114 Briar Preston defeated No. 49 Zoe Scandalis. Marker won her match in a three-set thriller 6-4, 3-6, 10-7 and Preston won hers in straight sets 6-3, 6-3. Marker moves to 15-2 on the year and 4-4 against ranked opponents while Preston moves to 12-4 on the year and 2-3 against nationally ranked opponents.
"I felt this was a very exciting match on several levels,” head coach Vicky Maes said. “In doubles, we came as close to winning as we could by earning two match points to get the team point. Unfortunately, USC came up with the shots when we couldn't. In singles, I was happy to see great tennis on the front courts. Lauren (Marker) and Briar (Preston) deserve a lot of credit for coming up with big wins.”
There was no lack of drama as soon as doubles play began. Each match came down to the wire, but the Trojans came out on top and earned the hard fought doubles point. The duo of Laura Oldham/Devin Chypyha (9-4) were forced to play a seven-point tiebreaker in their match against Zoe Katz and Meredith Xepoleas. They ended up winning the match 8-7 (7-4) and got Arizona off to a good start in doubles. Lauren Marker/Inge Hendrikx (9-6) were defeated in their match against Gabby Smith/Madison Westby 8-6. It all came down to Preston/Shayne Austin's (10-4) match, where they were also forced to play a seven-point tiebreaker but lost 7-8 (4-7) to 15th ranked Olmos/Scandalis.
For the rest of the Wildcats in singles play, No. 65 Gabby Smith defeated Chypyha (13-3) in straight sets 6-1, 6-1 and Oldham (9-7) lost her match to No. 73 Westby 6-0, 6-4. Katz then defeated Hendrikx (12-4) 6-0, 6-2 and No. 64 Xepoleas clinched the victory for the Trojans as she defeated Austin (9-7) 6-0, 6-3.
Arizona will take on fourth-ranked UCLA tomorrow at noon PT at LaNelle Robson Tennis Center. Tomorrow's match is also senior day for Arizona's Laura Oldham and Briar Preston.
Singles
1. #80 Lauren Marker (ARIZ) def. #11 Giuliana Olmos (USC) 6-4, 3-6, 10-7
2. #114 Briar Preston (ARIZ) def. #49 Zoe Scandalis (USC) 6-3, 6-3
3. #73 Madison Westby (USC) def. Laura Oldham (ARIZ) 6-0, 6-4
4. #65 Gabby Smith (USC) def. Devin Chypyha (ARIZ) 6-1, 6-1
5. #64 Meredith Xepoleas (USC) def. Shayne Austin (ARIZ) 6-0, 6-3
6. Zoe Katz (USC) def. Inge Hendrikx (ARIZ) 6-0, 6-2
Doubles
1. #15 Giuliana Olmos/Zoe Scandalis (USC) def. Briar Preston/Shayne Austin (ARIZ) 8-7
2. Gabby Smith/Madison Westby (USC) def. Lauren Marker/Inge Hendrikx (ARIZ) 8-6
3. Laura Oldham/Devin Chypyha (ARIZ) def. Zoe Katz/Meredith Xepoleas (USC) 8-7
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