Box Scores: Chowan | Tarleton State | Assumption | George Mason
HILTON HEAD, S.C. — The Michigan Tech women's tennis team wrapped up its 2013-14 season with four matches at Spring Tennis Fest in Hilton Head last week. The Huskies went 1-3 on the trip and finished the year with a 6-18 mark.
"This week really mirrored the rest of our season," said coach Kevin Kalinec. "We got strong play from the top of our lineup and the everybody worked hard.
"One of our main goals for this week was to develop our younger players for next year, which we did."
Tech opened with a heartbreaking 5-4 loss to Chowan (from Murfreesboro, N.C.) on Mar. 8. The Huskies trailed 2-1 after doubles. Natalia Lebedeva and Kwang Suthijindawong accounted for a 9-8 (5) victory at No. 1. The two also won their singles matches. Lebedeva was a 6-1, 7-5 victor at No. 1 while Suthijindawong claimed a 6-1, 6-1 decision. Tech needed two more matches to fall their way for the team victory. Nos. 4, 5 and 6 all went to third set super tiebreakers. Only Emilia Tenizbaeva won (6-1, 6-7, 10-5). Audrey Hutton lost 0-6, 6-3, 10-3 at No. 5. Kat Donovan fell 6-7 (3), 6-4, 12-10.
Tarleton State (from Stephenville, Texas) defeated Michigan Tech 8-1 on Mar. 9. All nine flights were decided in straight sets. The only one to go the Huskies' way was at No. 2 singles, Suthijindawong kept her perfect dual match record in tact with a 6-3, 6-1 decision. Lebedeva suffered just her fourth defeat in 21 matches on the season at No. 1 when TSU's Ann Perez won 6-0, 6-0.
Tech bounced back with a 7-2 victory over Assumption (from Worcester, Mass.) on Mar. 10. The Black and Gold led 2-1 after doubles. Erika Tenizbaeva and Donovan paired for their first win of the week at No. 3 doubles 8-6. In singles, the top of the Huskies' lineup rolled—all winning in straight sets including a 6-1, 6-2 triumph by Hutton at No. 5. Donovan was edged at No. 6 by a 7-5, 7-6 (4) score.
The Huskies closed out the trip Mar. 13 with a 5-2 loss to NCAA Division I George Mason (from Fairfax, Va.). Lebedeva and Suthijindawong won 8-3 at No. 1 doubles, but GMU claimed the other two doubles flights to win the doubles point (Division I counts doubles as one point as opposed to three for Division II). Lebedeva won 6-3, 6-4 at No. 1 singles for her third victory of the week. Suthijindawong accounted for the other point with a 6-1, 6-0 triumph at No. 2.
Suthijindawong polished off a perfect weekend and 19-1 singles record on the season (her one loss coming at the ITA Regional Tournament). Lebedeva was 3-1 on the week, while Emilia Tenizbaeva went 2-2.
Lebedeva wrapped up a brilliant career, which saw her rack up a 63-18 overall singles record including a 45-12 mark at No. 1.
"Natasha (Lebedeva) has been a really strong player for us for four years," said Kalinec. "It was nice to see her go out strong. She kind of passed the torch to Kwang as our top player moving forward."
Michigan Tech, which posted a 5-9 mark during the fall season, has concluded its 2013-14 campaign.
