March 21, 2008

KENNESAW, Ga. - Ayano Tanaka led the Owls to a 4-3 victory over Presbyterian at the KSU Tennis Complex Friday afternoon, earning her third-straight singles victory with a 6-1, 6-0 sweep of Brittany Lanford in No. 1 singles. The win moved Tanaka's team-best record to 6-4 on the spring and helped the Owls improve their overall record to 5-6.

"It was good to get a win after such a long lay-off," said Kennesaw State head coach Brandon Padgett on his team's victory. "The girls played well today, and Ayano continues to excel at No.1."

The Owls got things off to a good start, taking two out of three of the doubles matches to take an early 1-0 lead. Karen Ammann and Lindsay Dillon took the No. 2 doubles match from Megan Davis and Karen Fuller to give the Owls the early edge. Trailing 6-5, Ammann won all four points on unreturnable serves to tie the match at 6-6 allowing her and Dillon to eventually seal the match 8-6.

Paula Takara and Lindsey Whalen, playing together for the first time this season, sealed the doubles win for KSU with an 8-5 defeat of Virginia Waldron and Cayla Reece at No. 3. Takara closed out the match in emphatic fashion, slamming home the last point with an overhand smash.

In No. 1 doubles, Tanaka and Agatha Palider battled through three lead changes and three ties before falling 6-8 to the Blue Hose's No. 1 duo of Landford and Abby Diminic.

"Doubles is still a project," added Padgett. "It is obvious from our results that winning doubles goes a long way towards earning the overall victory. Winning today should give us some confidence heading into tomorrow's match with a tough UTC team."

Takara added to the Owls 2-0 lead with her straight set win over Fuller in No. 4 singles. The senior from Sao Paulo, Brazil raised her spring singles record to 5-5 with her 6-2, 6-4 win.

Presbyterian climbed back into the match with wins at No. 2 and No. 5 to bring the match to 3-2 before Jenna Wright was able to seal the win for the Black and Gold at No. 6.

Wright easily took the first set 6-1 from the Blue Hose's No. 6 player and looked strong to open the second set. Reece fought back and held a 5-4 edge before the Owls sophomore regained her momentum. Wright broke Reece to move the set to five games a piece and then held serve to take the lead at 6-5. She avoided the tiebreaker by breaking Reece again in the 13th game, sealing the Owls fifth win of the season.

Not allowing the fact that the team-win had already been sealed by KSU affect them, Ammann and Davis battled for three sets in what was the most intriguing match of the day. Ammann took the first set 6-2 before Davis tied the match by winning the second set 6-4. The two battled back and forth, exchanging breaks until Davis eventually emerged victorious 6-4.

"Hopefully we will have good weather again tomorrow and we will be able to play well," concluded Padgett. "Closing the homestand with two straight wins and a .500 record would be a great boost of confidence as we head back to the road against conference competition.

The Owls will look to make it two in a row as they host Chattanooga on Saturday at 1 p.m. Shane's Rib Shack will be out at the KSU Tennis Complex selling food with 10% of all proceeds going to benefit the tennis program.

Kennesaw State 4, Presbyterian 3
Singles
1. Ayano Tanaka (KSU) def. Brittany Lanford (PRESBY) 6-1, 6-0
2. Abby Diminic (PRESBY) def. Agatha Palider (KSU) 6-3, 6-4
3. Megan Davis (PRESBY) def. Karen Ammann (KSU) 2-6, 6-4, 6-4
4. Paula Takara (KSU) def. Kari Fuller (PRESBY) 6-2, 6-4
5. Virginia Waldron (PRESBY) def. Allison Baulis (KSU) 6-1, 6-2
6. Jenna Wright (KSU) def. Cayla Reece (PRESBY) 6-1, 7-5

Doubles competition
1. Brittany Lanford/Abby Diminic (PRESBY) def. Agatha Palider/Ayano Tanaka (KSU) 8-6
2. Lindsay Dillon/Karen Ammann (KSU) def. Megan Davis/Kari Fuller (PRESBY) 8-6
3. Lindsey Whalen/Paula Takara (KSU) def. Virginia Waldron/Cayla Reece (PRESBY) 8-5

Exhibition
Caroline Page def. Brooke Toluba 6-1, 6-0