No. 5 Lady Cougars Move On to Semifinals, Down No. 9 Hawaii Pacific
BY CSU Sports Information
ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, Fla. –The fifth-ranked Columbus State University women's tennis team continued its run in the NCAA Tournament Thursday capturing a thrilling 4-2 victory over ninth-ranked Hawaii Pacific in the national quarterfinals. The match took place at Sanlando Park in Altamonte Springs, Fla.
The Lady Cougars will now advance back to the semifinals for the second consecutive season. CSU will play a familiar foe Friday taking on second-ranked Barry, who knocked out the Lady Cougars from the NCAA Tournament a season ago.
"What a match," commented head coach Evan Isaacs. "This is what you train and practice for during the whole off season, for moments like this. I'm super proud of these young ladies. This is one of the most mentally tough group of ladies I have ever coached, and we're ready for the big challenge ahead tomorrow."
Columbus State (26-4) won both completed doubles matches to earn the first point of the day.Beatriz Lopez and Clara Audap were the first to finish, winning 6-3 at third doubles.Natalia Kattah Paz and Candice Paya wrapped up doubles play after taking court two by the score of 6-4. First doubles went unfinished, but 32nd-ranked Noa Davico and Luise Sachs were up 6-5 when play was called.
The two sides spilt the first two singles points. Davico put CSU ahead 2-0 after winning fourth singles 6-0, 6-3, but Hawaii Pacific took third singles as 52nd-ranked Sachs fell 6-0, 7-5. Paya put the Lady Cougars back in by front by two winning at the second position in straight sets 6-3, 6-4.
Hawaii Pacific (15-6) extended the match after winning a ranked showdown at first singles. Thirty-fourth-ranked Elodie Busson edged 35th-ranked Lopez in a tight two-set match 6-4, 7-5. But it was the frehsman Audap who then dashed the comeback hopes rallying to win sixth singles 3-6, 6-2, 6-2 to send the Lady Cougars to the semifinals.
CSU and Barry will square off Friday morning at 9 a.m.