Women's Tennis Falls to Texas, 5-1
6/21/1999 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
March 13, 1999
AUSTIN, Texas - The No. 6-ranked University of Texas women's tennis team, behind an upset of the No. 6 ranked individual in the country by junior Michelle Faucher, defeated No. 9 Wake Forest 5-1 in non-conference action Saturday afternoon at the Penick-Allison Tennis Center in Austin, Texas. The Longhorns clinched the victory with five singles wins and, as a result, the doubles matches were not contested.
The match's outcome appeared in doubt in the early going, as each school claimed three first-set wins. But Texas (8-3 overall and 5-0 in Big 12 play) won all three of its matches in which it had led after the first set, as well as two of the three in which Longhorns trailed. In addition, the Longhorns won all three matches that went to three sets, giving UT players a 10-1 record in three-set matches over the last five contests. It is UT's eighth win all-time without a defeat against the Demon Deacons.
The upset of the day occurred in the No. 1 singles match, where Faucher defeated WFU sophomore Mariel Verban, the No. 6-ranked player in the country, 3-6, 6-3, 7-5. Faucher, who has seen time in the national rankings this spring, moves to 14-9 overall while Verban falls to 28-11. The victory-clinching win was posted at No. 2 singles by UT senior Laura Berendt over Wake Forest's Janet Bergman 7-5, 4-6, 6-4. UT's No. 1 player, 23rd-ranked senior Sandy Sureephong, did not compete to rest a sore ankle.
The lone Demon Deacon win was provided at the No. 3 singles spot by freshman Maren Haus, who defeated UT's Kim Gates 6-2, 6-4. Haus improves to 13-10 on the season.
"I think Texas played very well today. This was probably the worst wind we'll play in this year, but I felt we played well," said Wake Forest head coach Lew Gerrard. "The Nos. 1-3 singles match could have gone either way. Texas got the breaks in every match. Mariel Verban had many chances to win her match, but she was tentative toward the end. She wasn't her normal 100 percent today. I thought Michelle Faucher handled the conditions really well, especially at crunch time. I was impressed with her play."
WAKE FOREST WOMEN'S TENNIS
at the Penick-Allison Tennis Center, Austin, Texas
No. 6 Texas def. No. 16 Wake Forest, 5-1
Singles Results
1. Michelle Faucher (UT) def. No. 6 Mariel Verban (WF) 3-6, 6-3, 7-5 2. Laura Berendt (UT) def. Janet Bergman (WF) 7-5, 4-6, 6-4 3. Maren Haus (WF) def. No. 66 Kim Gates (UT) 6-2, 6-4 4. No. 75 Janet Walker (UT) def. Jackie Houston (WF) 6-1, 6-4 5. Kaysie Smashey (UT) def. Annemarie Milton (WF) 0-6, 6-3, 6-2 6. Joanne Masongsong (UT) def. Caroline Ullring (WF) 6-2, 6-1Doubles Results
Not contested due to clinching of match by Texas in singles