April 13, 2008

KENNESAW, Ga. - The Kennesaw State women's tennis team finished its season on a strong note Saturday, dropping only 16 games in back-to-back wins over Alabama State and North Carolina Central.

The Owls put together a 7-0 sweep of the Hornets on Friday, before capping off their season with a 6-1 defeat of the Eagles yesterday.

The Owls (8-12, 2-9) were dominant in their disposal of ASU, losing only two games en route to their first sweep since a February 15 win over Savannah State.

Kennesaw State jumped out to the early lead with a sweep of the doubles matches, where Ayano Tanaka and Mercedes Cobos teamed up at No. 1 for an 8-1 victory over Maria Hunter and Scheniece Rollins. The win moved the Owls duo to 5-0 as a team this spring, including 3-0 at No. 1.

"It was nice to see Mercedes and Ayano continue their streak of unbeaten doubles," said Kennesaw State head coach Brandon Padgett on his No. 1 team. "With all of the difficulties we have had this season in doubles, they have been outstanding together, giving us a combination we can count on."

Lindsay Dillon and Paula Takara teamed up for just the second time this season for the 8-0 sweep at No. 3, while Karen Ammann and Caroline Page moved their spring doubles record to 4-3 with an 8-0 win at No. 2.

The Owls rode the momentum into the singles portion of the match, taking all six matches in straight sets. Tanaka moved her spring record at No. 1 to 5-4 with a 6-0, 6-1 defeat of Rollins, while Dillon earned her first singles win since KSU's February sweep of the Tigers with a 6-0, 6-0 blanking of Delicia Fincher at No. 6.

The remainder of the Owls squad followed Dillon's example, blanking each of their opponents in straight sets. Ammann ran her winning-streak to three matches with her win over Tarera Fleming at No. 3, as did Takara at No. 4 with a victory over Beoncia Dunn.

Caroline Page hadn't lost a game at No. 5 before her opponent, Latrice Ervin, retired down 0-4 in the second set. Palider continued her strong play at No. 2, sealing the Owls sweep of the match.

The Owls sent their four seniors out in a style a day later, giving Ammann, Page, Takara, and Madeleine Hakansson a fond farewell with their 6-1 defeat of NCCU in front of a home crowd at the KSU Tennis Complex.

"I am extremely proud of our seniors for the effort that they put into making this season a success," added Padgett on his departing seniors. "We are glad to have had them as part of the program, and appreciate their help in making the difficult transition to the D-I level."

After the seniors were presented plaques as a thank you for their service to the Black and Gold, the Owls jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead with a flawless doubles performance.

Tanaka and Cobos finished the season undefeated as a team, downing Tatiana Velasquez and Ashley Rogers 8-0 at No. 1 to finish the season at 6-0. The senior duo of Ammann and Page finished their careers on a winning streak, blanking Comesha Hickman and Stephanie Lee at No. 2 for their second-straight win.

"I look forward to seeing how they perform together next season," concluded Padgett on Tanaka and Cobos. "They are a strong team that we should be able to build the rest of our doubles tandems around."

Jenna Wright and Dillon finished out the doubles sweep, running through NCCU's No. 3 team of Ambra Mason and Antoinette Spain 8-0.

The Owls never looked back after taking the early lead, winning five of the six singles matches in straight sets to secure the win. Allison Baulis snapped her singles losing streak in dominant fashion, taking down Spain 6-0, 6-0 at No. 5.

Palider blanked a second-straight opponent, downing Lee 6-0, 6-0 at No. 2, while Cobos ended her junior season with a 6-0, 6-0 sweep of Hickman at No. 4.

Lindsey Whalen earned her first singles victory in nearly a month with her 6-1, 6-0 win over Mason at No. 6 to seal the match. Tanaka showed her leg was fully healed in the Owls win as she cruised past Rogers, 6-1, 6-1 at No. 1., and Takara rounded out the day's action, falling 6-3, 6-1 to Velasquez at No. 2.

The Owls doubled their win total from last season, finishing with an 8-12 overall record. They also earned their first two conference wins since joining the Atlantic Sun Conference, downing Lipscomb and Gardner-Webb. They are not eligible for postseason play due to the recent transition to Division I.




Kennesaw State 7, Alabama State 0
April 11, Montgomery, Ala.

Doubles
1. Cobos/Tanaka (KSU) def. Hunter/Rollins (ASU) 8-1
2. Ammann/Page (KSU) def. Fincher/Fleming (ASU) 8-0
3. Takara/Dillon (KSU) def. Ervin/Dunn (ASU) 8-0

Singles
1. Ayano Tanaka (KSU) def. Scheniece Rollins (ASU) 6-0, 6-1
2. Agatha Palider (KSU) def. Maria Hunter (ASU) 6-0, 6-0
3. Karen Ammann (KSU) def. Tarera Fleming (ASU) 6-0, 6-0
4. Paula Takara (KSU) def. Beoncia Dunn (ASU) 6-0, 6-0
5. Caroline Page (KSU) def. Latrice Ervin (ASU) 6-0, 4-0 ret.
6. Lindsay Dillon (KSU) def. Delicia Fincher (ASU) 6-0, 6-0

Kennesaw State 6, North Carolina Central 1
April 12, Kennesaw, Ga.

Doubles
1. Tanaka/Cobos (KSU) def. Velasquez/Rogers (NCCU) 8-0
2. Ammann/Page (KSU) def. Hickman/Lee (NCCU) 8-0
3. Wright/Dillon (KSU) def. Spain/Mason (NCCU) 8-0

Singles
1. Ayano Tanaka (KSU) def. Ashley Rogers (NCCU) 6-1, 6-1
2. Tatiana Velasquez (NCCU) def. Paula Takara (KSU) 6-3, 6-1
3. Agatha Palider (KSU) def. Stephanie Lee (NCCU) 6-0, 6-0
4. Mercedes Cobos (KSU) def. Comesha Hickman (NCCU) 6-0, 6-0
5. Allison Baulis (KSU) def. Antoinette Spain (NCCU) 6-0, 6-0
6. Lindsey Whalen (KSU) def. Ambra Mason (NCCU) 6-1, 6-0