Feb. 14, 2009

SANTA CLARA, Calif. - The Santa Clara women's tennis team edged Northern Arizona, 4-3, Saturday afternoon at the Degheri Tennis Center. After dropping the doubles point to the Lumberjacks, the focused Broncos bounced back to win four of the six singles matches. Freshman Kacie Wagner posted two wins on the day. At the No. 2 singles position, Wagner battled NAU's Edit Suhajada in a three set match. After falling in the first set, 4-6, she came back to win the final two sets, 6-2, 7-6 (4), to get a Bronco singles point. With doubles partner, fellow freshman Kimmi Cox, the duo earned SCU's lone doubles win of the day. The Bronco tandem defeated Northern Arizona's Yumi Hasegawa and Aimee Oki, 8-4.

In singles, Cox went 2-0 as well, as she breezed by the Lumberjacks Oki, 6-2, 6-1, for Santa Clara's most decisive singles win on the day at the No. 6 spot. Four of the Broncos' singles matches went into a third set versus the talented NAU squad. At the No. 1 singles position, Stephanie Galainena remained composed after falling in the first set 7-6 (4) to Northern Arizona's Kim Van Ginkle. The Bronco senior captain bounced back to defeat Van Ginkle, 6-1, 6-2, in the second and third sets to slate a victory. Rounding out the SCU singles wins, was sophomore Ashley Pane who posted a three set win at the No. 4 spot over the Lumberjacks Stacey Pinchbeck. Pane fell in the first set, 4-6, and came back in the final two sets, 6-4, 6-3, to solidify the SCU win.

"Today was a great match for us," said head coach Ben Cabell. "The team had a great performance. We showed a lot of heart and competitiveness after losing the doubles point. We stayed composed and it was great for us to get this win, especially since we were swept, 7-0, by this same team last year. We are all very excited about today's win!"

Santa Clara returns to the court on Thursday, February 19, to host local rival San Jose State at 2 p.m.

Santa Clara 4, Northern Arizona 3

Doubles
No. 1 NAU Kim Van Ginkle/Edit Suhajda def. SCU Stephanie Galainena/Ashley Pane 8-6
No. 2 NAU Stacey Pinchbeck/Orsi Golovics def. SCU Myra Davoudi/Carmen Pham 8-6
No. 3 SCU Kimmi Cox/Kacie Wagner def. Yumi Hasegawa/Aimee Oki 8-4

Singles
No. 1 SCU Stephanie Galainena def. NAU Kim Van Ginkle 6-7 (4), 6-1, 6-2
No. 2 SCU Kacie Wagner def. NAU Edit Suhajada 4-6,6-2, 7-6 (4)
No. 3 NAU Orsi Golovics def. SCU Myra Davoudi 6-2, 6-4
No. 4 SCU Ashley Pane def. NAU Stacey Pinchbeck 4-6, 6-4, 6-3
No. 5 NAU Yumi Hasegawa def. SCU Kelly Buckley 5-7, 6-2, 6-4
No. 6 SCU Kimmi Cox def. NAU Aimee Oki 6-2, 6-1