Broncos And Dons Rained Out With Match Tied At 3-3 In WCC Fifth Place Match

Broncos And Dons Rained Out With Match Tied At 3-3 In WCC Fifth Place Match

April 22, 2007

MALIBU, Calif. - The Santa Clara University women's tennis team ended its season with a rainout of its West Coast Conference tournament fifth-place match against the University of San Francisco on Sunday afternoon. The Broncos and Dons officially finish in a tie for fifth in the WCC. The match was tied at 3-3 and the teams had split No. 2 and No. 3 doubles. In the final match, Casey Knutson and Erika Barnes led 7-4, needing one game to clinch the match, at the time of the cancellation. Barnes was serving for the match at the time of the cancellation.

The Broncos finish the season 8-12 and fifth in the WCC, two spots higher than last year.

No. 7 Santa Clara vs. No. 4 San Francisco, Cancelled

Quotes

Senior Kim Daniel, on weekend: "One of our goals at the beginning of the year was to play our best tennis at the WCCs and I think that we did that. Everyone contributed this weekend. We had a tough match against Saint Mary's on Friday, but it helped us get ready for Portland. We fought hard yesterday and today to finish the season strong."

Daniel, on beating Portland: "We lost to them in a very close match lat time, but we knew that if we played well we could beat them. After we took the doubles against them, we had a lot of confidence going into singles."

Daniel, on seniors winning against Portland: "It was really special to have Casey, Erika and me all win our matches in singles against Portland. That was a great way to end our careers. We are all pretty happy with how we finished up."

Daniel, on finish to season and momentum for next year: "We stayed positive all year and we knew that we could compete with everyone out there. I think the girls that are coming back next year will come in with confidence after such a strong finish. We were a close group this year and they need to remain close next year because that really helps you be successful."

Head coach Ben Cabell, on weekend: "We played another good match today before the rain came. We will take fifth place any day after coming in as the seventh seed. That is two spots better than a year ago so that shows the team's improvement. The team was close to winning today but we just couldn't beat the rain."

Cabell, on Stephanie Galainena's play: "You have to give Steph a lot of credit today. She hung tough at No. 2 and came back from losing the first set to win the last two. Her win at No. 2 kept us alive. She had the pressure on her, but she handled it well. I couldn't be happier with her effort."

Cabell, on seniors: "Each one of them contributed incredibly to our success this weekend and this season. Casey had good win yesterday and could have won in doubles today. Erika won two singles matches and helped us in doubles also. Kim clinched it for us against Portland yesterday. Without her in that spot, we would have been in trouble. I am glad that they finished their careers on such a good note."