MONTGOMERY, Ala.--The NAIA top-ranked Auburn-Montgomery Lady Senators pulled out a hard-fought 5-2 victory over the fifth-ranked Barry Buccaneers in the finals on the women’s side of the 2010 Blue/Gray Classic at Lagoon Park in Montgomery, Ala., on Saturday.
The Bucs (15-3) jumped out in front as the sixth-ranked pair of Barbi Pocza and Yulia Kashelkina knocked off the Senators top team of Ana Veselinovic and Whitney Byrd 8-2 at number one.
The Senators (13-3) came back to take the third flight 8-3 as Parija Maloo and Morgane Zowczak beat Angie Werschel and Julie Stas.
The decisive point may have come at two doubles, where the AUM team of Nathalie Sienkob and Kevta Hajkova won a back-and-forth battle 9-7 over Mia Fiocca and Berit Peterson to give the Lady Senators a 2-1 lead coming out of doubles.
Pocza defeated Veselinovic 3-6, 6-2, 6-0 at number one to even the match and the Bucs led at number two and number five, but AUM was able to pull out singles wins at three, four and six for the final 5-2 margin. At number three, #24 Byrd beat Kashelkina 6-0, 6-2. Sixth-ranked Zowczak took three sets to beat Caroline Wendling 4-6, 6-2, 6-3, while #11 Sienkob finished Peterson 6-3, 6-4 at number six.
The Bucs close out Sunshine State Conference play on Wednesday, Apr. 7 against the Nova Southeastern Sharks at Buccaneer Tennis Center at 3:00 pm.
Tennis Match Results
Barry vs Auburn-Montgomery
04/03/10 at Montgomery, Ala.
(Lagoon Park)
#1 Auburn-Montgomery 5, #4 Barry 2
Singles competition
1. #5 Barbi Pocza (BUW) def. Ana Veselinovic (AUM) 3-6, 6-2, 6-0
2. Parija Maloo (AUM) vs. #12 Angie Werschel (BUW) 7-5, 2-6, 0-3, unfinished
3. #24 Whitney Byrd (AUM) def. #40 Yulia Kashelkina (BUW) 6-0, 6-2
4. #6 Morgane Zowczak (AUM) def. Caroline Wendling (BUW) 4-6, 6-2, 6-3
5. Kevta Hajkova (AUM) vs. Mia Fiocca (BUW) 6-4, 2-6, 1-3, unfinished
6. #11 Nathalie Sienkob (AUM) def. Berit Peterson (BUW) 6-3, 6-4
Doubles competition
1. #6 Yulia Kashelkina/Barbi Pocza (BUW) def. Ana Veselinovic/Whitney Byrd (AUM) 8-2
2. Nathalie Sienkob/Kevta Hajkova (AUM) def. Mia Fiocca/Berit Peterson (BUW) 9-7
3. Parija Maloo/Morgane Zowczak (AUM) def. Angie Werschel/Julie Stas (BUW) 8-3
Match Notes:
Barry 15-3; National ranking #4
Auburn-Montgomery 13-3; National ranking #1
AUM ranking reflects NAIA placement