University of North Texas
Boston University
Tennis Dominates In 6-1 Win
3/24/2018 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
NORFOLK, VA. —After a week off, the North Texas tennis team didn't skip a beat on Saturday in a dominating 6-1 win over Boston University on the campus of Old Dominion.
Despite the layoff, the Mean Green (7-9) brought their momentum on the road and extended their winning streak to three with the victory. North Texas won four of the six singles matches in straight sets and cruised to the doubles point victory with two 6-1 wins at doubles No. 1 and No. 2. They have now won the doubles point in four consecutive matches.
"It's amazing to see our team compete and fight until the end like we did today," said sophomore Ivana Babic. "Winning three in a row late in the season is great and giving us even more confidence."
Babic was inserted in the lineup after a late scratch and exemplified her team's fight with a 7-6(3), 6-4 win at the No. 6 position in the lineup. Babic's victory at the backend of the lineup was icing on the cake for North Texas who had clinched the victory right before Babic won her match.
Babic has seen a majority of her playing time this season in doubles but on Saturday took advantage of her opportunity in singles as the power player powered her way through her match.
"I want to thank coach Lama for giving me an opportunity to play," Babic said. "I'm always happy to compete for my team and win. I know I will improve even more and hopefully bring more wins to my team."
For the second-straight match, the top half of UNT's singles lineup picked up straight set victories. Saturday it began with a commanding 6-1, 6-1 win by Minying Liang at No. 3. The win is Liang's second-straight straight set singles victory and her sixth of the dual match spring season.
Liang was followed up captain Maria Kononova who had nearly as impressive win as she gave UNT a 3-0 lead with a 6-2, 6-2 win at her No. 1 position. Kononova, who has had to overcome adversities this season has now won two single matches in a row and won four of her last six, including her Feb. 23 win over the No. 2 nationally ranked Andrea Lazaro.
Kononova entered Saturday's match as the No. 58 nationally ranked player.
North Texas clinched the win by its steady consistent junior Tamuna Kutubidze who this season has turned into the Mean Green's closer. After her 7-6(5), 6-4 win over her BU opponent, Kutubidze has now clinched a team-high four matches.
With the win, Kutubidze improves to 8-3 on the year. She has the most singles victories on the team and the best winning percentage. Saturday she played her usual No. 2 spot but she is a perfect 3-0 at No. 1.
The Mean Green's sixth point came at No. 5 where sophomore Haruka Sasaki grinded it out with her Boston University opponent to a tight 6-4, 4-6, 10-8 win. Sasaki has also won two consecutive matches and put together an impressive resume towards the end of the regular season.
NEXT UP
North Texas takes no days off and stays in Norfolk, Virginia, to face No. 44 Old Dominion on Sunday at 9:00 a.m. CT.
RESULTS
DOUBLES
1. Heczey/Kutubidze (UNT) def. Ramos/Burchell (BU); 6-1
2. Kononova/Liang (UNT) def. Kostirko/Kim (BU); 6-1
3. Surapaneni/Babic (UNT) vs. Martens/Blager (BU); unfinished (4-3)
SINGLES
1. Kononova (UNT) def. Kostirko (BU); 6-2, 6-2
2. Kutubidze (UNT) def. Ramos (BU); 7-6(5) 6-4
3. Liang (UNT) def. Kim (BU); 6-1, 6-1
4. Burchell (BU) def. Surapaneni (UNT); 6-3, 6-2
5. Sasaki (UNT) def. Martens (BU); 6-4, 4-6, 10-8
6. Babic (UNT) def. Kryloff (BU); 7-6(3), 6-4
Players Mentioned
