Ranganathan Tops Another Ranked Foe In Loss To FIU

Box Score

MIAMI (3/20/08) Madura Ranganathan knocked off her second nationally ranked opponent of the season, but it wasn’t enough as No. 44 Florida International downed the Mean Green tennis team, 6-1.

The freshman topped No. 91 ranked Liset Brito (3-6, 7-5, 10-8) to give the Golden Panthers (7-6) a late scare. Ranganathan topped the No. 70 ranked player in the country earlier this year, and improved to 9-6 on the season with the win on Thursday.

The Mean Green fell to 8-7 on the year, still only one victory shy of its win total in each of the last two seasons combined.

“I was really proud of Madura’s win against Brito, but in the rest of the singles FIU out executed us in all phase of the game,” said head coach Sujay Lama.

North Texas had an opportunity for momentum after Rachel Wilhelm and Narine Kazarova won the second slot doubles match. But the Golden Panther proved too strong in the other matches including an 8-2 win from FIU’s No.22 ranked doubles squad of Brito and Egle Petrauskaite.

“[Losing] the doubles point was crucial, because we had a chance to put on the pressure heading into singles. Against a good team like FIU, the window of opportunity is very small and you've got to take it when it's there,” Lama said.

The Mean Green head back to Denton to take on Marquette on Easter Sunday. Action will begin at 2 p.m. from the Waranch Tennis Complex.

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Madura Ranganathan

Rachel Wilhelm

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