Troy University Athletics
Young Guns and Senior Lead Way
3/20/2010 6:00:00 PM | Tennis (W)
TROY, Ala. - The Troy University women's tennis team rode the momentum of a doubles sweep, claiming a 6-1 victory over Arkansas State University Saturday afternoon, running their winning streak to four consecutive matches.
Troy (6-7) used the senior leadership of Stephanie Vieira and the play of their freshman to clinch the match early on a beautiul Saturday afternoon at the Lunsford Tennis Complex.
The senior, who struggled yesterday at number four, took advantage of mistakes by her opponent to claim a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Menna Kamal of Arkansas State. Playing with an injured right arm, Vieira used her overpowering groundstrokes to walk away with the easy victory.
Although Vieira clinched the match with her victory, it was the effort of freshman Lauren Simpson that caught everyone's attention in attendance. The freshman walked off the court just 42 minutes after walking onto the court with an easy 6-0, 6-1 victory over Arkansas State's Jenny Herring. The southpaw hit a high percentage of first serves and was able to force numerous errors by Herring to claim the victory, as well as keeping her opponent moving constantly on the baseline.
Unlike yesterday, freshman Rosaura Ramirez-Vega made sure to get off the court before her teammates. On Friday, Ramirez-Vega played a marathon match against ULM to clinch the victory and on Saturday she put the Trojans up 3-0 with a straight-set victory. Needing no injury timeout on this day, Ramirez-Vega claimed a 6-1, 6-4 victory for the Trojans.
The third freshman of the day to win in singles play for the Trojans, Emma Smith, was the fifth victory of the day as she was pushed to three sets but was able to win the final set in a super tiebreaker. The English freshman dropped the first set of the day at 6-4, but charged back to win the final two sets 7-5 and 1-0 (10-5).
Troy's number one player, Karoline Grymel, used motivation from yesterday's match when she fell behind early in the first set. The freshman continued fighting and claimed an opening set tiebreaker over Arkansas State's Elne' Barnard - winning the tiebreaker easily at 7-2. She went on to claim the second set and win in straight sets 7-6, 6-4 to walk off the court with the sixth and final victory of the day.
In doubles play, the Trojans swept the competition, only challenged at number one for the most part. The team of Vieira and Ramirez-Vega were the first off the court when they dispatched of Arkansas State's Jenny Herring and Menna Kamal 8-0. The doubles point was clinched when the number two team of Simpson and Smith defeated Arkansas State's Maria Aleman and Ioana Teu, 8-6.
After the doubles point was all ready decided, the Trojans went for the sweep and got it at number one. Trailing late in the match, the number one team Leonie Guijt and Karoline Grymel came back for a tiebreaker victory over Arkansas State's team of Elne' Bernard and Rone' van Wyk.
The Trojans return to action Sunday morning at 10 am in the their third consecutive match at the Lunsford Tennis Complex against UALR. The match may be affected by the weather with rain projected for the region, check back with TroyTrojans.com for more information.
Troy 6, Arkansas State 1
Lunsford Tennis Complex (Troy, Ala.)
March 20, 2010
Singles
1. Karoline Grymel (TROY) def. Elne' Barnard (ASU) 7-6 (2), 6-4
2. Lauren Simpson (TROY) def. Jenny Herring (ASU) 6-0, 6-1
3. Rone' van Wyk (ASU) def. Leonie Guijt (TROY) 6-1, 5-7, 1-0 (10-4)
4. Stephanie Vieira (TROY) def. Menna Kamal (ASU) 6-4, 6-4
5. Rosaura Ramirez-Vega (TROY) def. Menna Aleman (ASU) 6-1, 6-4
6. Emma Smith (TROY) def. Ioanna Teu (ASU) 4-6, 7-5, 1-0 (10-5)
Order of finish: 2,5,4,6,3,1
Doubles
1. Karoline Grymel/Leonie Guijt (TROY) def. Elne' Barnard/Rone' van Wyk (ASU) 8-7 (5)
2. Lauren Simpson/Emma Smith (TROY) def. Menna Aleman/Ioanna Teu (ASU) 8-6
3. Stephanie Vieira/Rosaura Ramirez-Vega (TROY) def. Jenny Herring/Menna Kamal (ASU) 8-0
Order of finish: 3,2,1
