Jan. 31, 2003
SANTA CLARA, Calif. - The Santa Clara University women's tennis team opened the 2003 season with a victory over San Jose State, 5-2 this evening at the SCU Tennis Center. Freshman Casey Knutson clinched the victory for the Broncos in her collegiate debut.
This year's competition added incentive for victory with the creation of a rivalry series between the two schools. Santa Clara earned two points as today's winner.
"Our matches against San Jose State have always been competitive," said SCU head coach Aby Ryan, after earning her 99th career victory. "The new rivalry series added an extra element to the competition. We were eager to play and competed really well today."
A competition that awards points for each victory between the two schools in 13 sports, the rivalry series has been dominated thus far in the season by Santa Clara with the Broncos owning a 18-3 lead. SCU won head-to-head match-ups in volleyball, men and women's soccer, women's basketball and men and women's cross country to jump out to an early lead in the inaugural contest. The Spartans earned their first points of the season with a two-point victory in men's basketball in late November.
The Broncos swept doubles play to earn the first point of the afternoon. Senior Ashley Campbell and junior Jenny Siegel were off the courts first with their 8-1 win at No. 3. Seniors Mariko Kawakami and Pati Ruiz overcame an early deficit to win on the second court by an 8-6 score. Senior Christine Limbers and sophomore Janalle Kaloi rounded out the sweep with their 8-4 final over San Jose State's Noelle Lee and Ana Lukner.
In singles action, Ruiz, Kawakami and Knutson earned solid victories, ceding only two games in those three matches.
"We have a really deep team this year, and we will have a lot of success in the bottom half of the lineup, as seen today," Ryan added.
After dropping her opening frame, Limbers won at the top singles spot in a super-tie break over Lee. Kaloi and sophomore Catherine Cochrane were not able to overcome first-set losses, and San Jose State earned its points by Lukner and Coral Silverstone at No. 2 and 3 singles.
The Broncos will return to the courts tomorrow, visiting Saint Mary's in an early West Coast Conference match. Ryan will aim to become the first coach in SCU women's tennis history to notch 100 career victories. First serve is slated for 11 a.m. in Moraga.
Doubles
1. Limbers/Kaloi (SCU) def. Lee/Lukner (SJSU) 8-4
2. Kawakami/Ruiz (SCU) def. Silverstone/Van (SJSU) 8-6
3. Ashley Campbell / Jenny Siegel (SCU) def. Vasu/ Thelma Chavez-Hoy (SJSU) 8-1
Singles
1. Christine Limbers (SCU) def. Noelle Lee (SJSU) 3-6, 6-0, (10-6)
2. Ana Lukner (SJSU) def. Janalle Kaloi (SCU) 6-2, 3-6, (10-8)
3. Coral Silverstone (SJSU) def. Catherine Cochrane (SCU) 6-2, 2-6, (10-8)
4. Pati Ruiz (SCU) def. Kathy Van (SJSU) 6-0, 6-0
5. Mariko Kawakami (SCU) def. Whitney Vasu (SJSU) 6-0, 6-1
6. Casey Knutson (SCU) def. Adna Halilovic (SJSU) 6-1, 6-0
