The Bulldogs lose a heartbreaker and see their season end in the desert heat to the Sun Devils.
May 11, 2003
Fresno State NCAA Tournament History
2003 Statistics
FRESNO, Calif. -
Arizona State battled back from a 2-0 deficit to post a 4-2 victory over Fresno State in the second round of the NCAA Tournament at the Whiteman Tennis Center in Tempe, Ariz.
The victory sends the Sun Devils (11-10), the tournament's 15th seeded team, into the round of 16 where they will play No. 2-seed Florida on Thursday in Gainesville, Fla.
Fresno State's season ends with a record of 17-8 and an appearance in the NCAA's for the eighth year in a row.
The Bulldogs started strong, winning the doubles point for the 11th consecutive match. At No. 1, the 16th-ranked duo of Chloe Carlotti and Lucia Tallo continued its lengthy winning streak. The tandem defeated Lauren Colalillo and Adria Engel 8-4 for their 14th consecutive win. Carlotti and Tallo, who will compete next week in the NCAA Doubles Tournament, are now 20-2 (16-1 dual) on the year.
"We always feel very good about our chances in doubles," head coach Kevin Epley said. "For the second half of the season, all three of our teams have played very well, but especially at No. 1. Lucia and Chloe have been a lock to win in every single match."
In singles, things continued to look bright when Kirsty McRae won her 11th in a row by breezing past Joslynn Burkett 6-1, 6-0, giving Fresno State a 2-0 lead. McRae's win improved the freshman's record to 16-8.
But that's when Arizona State began to grab ahold of the match. Playing on their home courts and with temperatures climbing into the 90's, the Sun Devils tied the score at 2-2 with straight set wins at Nos. 2 and 4.
ASU took the lead for good when Mhairi Brown took out Lucia Sainz 6-2, 7-5 at No. 3. That left it up to Chloe Carlotti at No. 1 and Kathrin Winterhalter at No. 5, with Fresno State needing victories on both courts to advance to the round of 16 for just the second time in program history.
While Carlotti was having her way with the seventh-ranked Engel at No. 1, Winterhalter was fighting for her life at No. 5. In the end, Colalillo finished off Winterhalter 6-3, 7-6 (2) to clinch victory for Arizona State. Carlotti, ranked eighth nationally, wound up just short of a victory, with the team match being called as the sophomore led 7-6 (3), 4-1.
"To play a team like Arizona State, at their place, in tough conditions, and to take them to the wire like we did really speaks volumes for us," head coach Kevin Epley said. "We were right there with them, and the experience our young players gained from our postseason run this year is going to mean something next year and in years to come.
"I am very proud of this team and am extremely excited about the fact that we have everyone coming back next year."
Fresno State's roster consists of four freshman and two sophomores, the youngest of any team ranked in the top 20. Nevertheless, the Bulldogs still managed to repeat as WAC champions and could garner individual accolades next week when Chloe Carlotti participates in the NCAA Singles Tournament. In addition, Carlotti and Tallo will play in the doubles competition.
"The team portion of the NCAA's may be over for us, but with Chloe and Lucia, we still have plenty of play for," Epley said. "Both of them have a shot at All-America honors, and that would be a great reward for the tremendous seasons they have put together."
The remainder of the team competition and all NCAA individual tournament matches will be played at the University of Florida.
NCAA TOURNAMENT - SECOND ROUND
Whiteman Tennis Center - Tempe, Ariz.
#15 Arizona State 4, Fresno State 2
Doubles (Fresno State wins point)
1) #16 Carlotti/Tallo (FS) def. Colalillo/Engel (ASU), 8-4
2. Sainz/Winterhalter (FS) def. Brown/Sureephong (ASU), 9-7
3. Burkett/Yeats (ASU) def. Jovanovic/McRae (FS), 8-3
Singles
1. #7 Adria Engel (ASU) trailed #8 Chloe Carlotti (FS), DNF (FS leading 7-6, 4-1)
2. #56 Dora Krstulovic (ASU) def. Lucia Tallo (FS), 6-2, 6-3
3. Mhairi Brown (ASU) def. Lucia Sainz (FS), 6-2, 7-5
4. Cindy Sureephong (ASU) def. Vlatka Jovanovic (FS), 6-2, 6-3
5. Lauren Colalillo (ASU) def. Kathrin Winterhalter (FS), 6-3, 7-6 (2)
6. Kristy McRae (FS) def. Joslynn Burkett (ASU), 6-1, 6-0
Records: Fresno State (17-8); Arizona State (11-10)
