April 12, 2002
SANTA CLARA, Calif. - The Santa Clara University women's tennis team earned a 5-2 victory over Pacific this afternoon at the SCU Tennis Center to close regular-season play. It marked the first victory over the Tigers for SCU head coach Aby Ryan. The Broncos' overall record improves to 12-8 on the season while Pacific's moves to 7-9.
"We've played four matches in the last seven days and to come away with our third victory is great," Ryan said. "We could have lost easily, but everybody just fought really hard."
The Broncos won the doubles point with wins on the first and third courts, led by senior Nicole McCord and junior Christine Limbers' 8-4 victory over Susanne Bertel and Katharina Heil.
In singles action, junior Pati Ruiz was the first off the court, building a 2-0 lead for the Broncos with her 6-1, 6-0 victory at the sixth spot. Pacific countered with wins on courts one and five, with the other three matches going into third sets.
McCord, playing her final regular season home match as a Bronco, took a 2-6, 6-2, 7-5 decision over Melinda Kocsis at No. 3 singles, allowing freshman Janalle Kaloi to clinch the match with her 4-6, 6-2, 6-3 victory over Heil. Minutes later, freshman Catherine Cochrane finished the scoring with her overhead winner for a 6-1, 0-6, 7-6 victory.
"Nicole was our star today," Ryan added. "She fought harder for today's victory than she ever has. She played a very good opponent, but she just wanted it. Our freshmen also stepped up big today."
Santa Clara will next be in action at the West Coast Conference Championships, hosted by the Broncos at the SCU Tennis Center next weekend, April 19-21.
"This win is a great to have going into our league tournament," Ryan said. "I'm glad it was close and we had to fight... it made us that more prepared for next weekend."
Santa Clara 5, Pacific 2
Singles
1. Susanne Bertel (PAC) def. Christine Limbers (SCU) 6-2, 6-2
2. Janalle Kaloi (SCU) def. Katharina Heil (PAC) 4-6, 6-2, 6-3
3. Nicole McCord (SCU) def. Melinda Kocsis (PAC) 2-6, 6-2, 7-5
4. Catherine Cochrane (SCU) def. Urska Dvorsek (PAC) 6-1, 0-6, 7-6 (5)
5. Michi Bittner (PAC) def. Ashley Campbell (SCU) 6-4, 6-0
6. Pati Ruiz (SCU) def. Jaimee Bremner (PAC) 6-1, 6-0
Doubles
1. Limbers/McCord (SCU) def. Bertel/ Heil (PAC) 8-4
2. Kocsis/ Bremner (PAC) def. Ruiz/ Jenny Siegel (SCU) 8-4
3. Kaloi/Campbell (SCU) def. Bittner/Lisa Lester (PAC) 8-6