Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
NCAA Individual Championships
Mosolova Outlasts First-Round Opponent at NCAA Championships
5/20/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
May 20, 2009
Live Stats
COLLEGE STATION, Texas -- Northwestern sophomore Maria Mosolova, the top overall seed in the 2009 NCAA Singles championship, moved into the second round with a three-set victory against UCLA's Andrea Remynse Wednesday in College Station, Texas. Senior Georgia Rose was not as fortunate, falling to Sanaz Marand of North Carolina, 6-2, 6-4.
NU's third representative in the singles competition, Samantha Murray, could not overcome 45th-ranked Christy Striplin of Georgia Tech, losing her late-afternoon match by a 6-4, 6-4 decision.
Thursday's schedule will see Mosolova take to the courts for her second-round match at 10 a.m. CT while NU's doubles pairs will be called to play later in the afternoon after 2 p.m.
Mosolova faced a stern test in the 57th-ranked UCLA sophomore but looked strong in the first set, repeatedly coming up with a big point when she needed it. She lost an extended fifth game and fell behind 3-2 but won the next two games to go up 4-3. In Remynse's next service game, Mosolova gained an Ad point where she hurried to a drop shot at the net and neatly placed her forehand past Remynse to go ahead 5-3. Mosolova then served out her game to take the first 6-3.
Remynse came back strong in the second by winning 6-2 to send the contest into a deciding set. Mosolova took a 1-0 lead when the chair umpire overruled an out call by Remynse on Mosolova's break point.
After a return break by Remynse, Mosolova began breaking the Bruin's will by dictating the pace of several long rallies. Already up 3-1, Mosolova proceeded to break Remynse's serve without losing a point as Remynse faltered with three unforced errors.
It was more of the same from that point on, with Mosolova hitting two winners before a long forehand by Remynse ended the contest on the second match point. Mosolova is now 34-7 this season and will face No. 35 Naomi Scharle of Florida State on Thursday.
Rose squared off against Marand for the second time this season having defeated her in the first round of the ITA All-American Championships back in October. Rose tore through her opening service game without losing a point but surrendered a break in the third game to fall behind 2-1. She later hit a smooth passing shot to hold serve and close within 3-2.
But 21st-ranked Marand was on top of her game and was able to take advantage of a few unforced errors by Rose, closing out the first set 6-2. In the second, Rose again streaked through the first service game, drilling an ace down the line to go up 1-0. She found herself in a similar situation as the first set, however, as Marand went up a break at 3-1.
After a hold by Rose, the two traded breaks before Marand notched a crucial hold to stay up 5-3. Rose won her fourth game of the set without losing a point but fell behind 40-0 in the ensuing game. She staved off a pair of match points on misses by Marand before a forehand by Rose sailed past the baseline, giving the Tar Heel the win.
Rose closes a phenomenal four-year singles career at Northwestern with an overall record of 125-36, which includes a 29-2 career record in the Big Ten. The four-time NCAA singles qualifier is now ready to focus on the doubles championships, which begin Thursday, with partner Lauren Lui.
NU's final match of the afternoon pitted Murray against Striplin, who Murray defeated 6-2, 6-4 in NU's dual victory at Geogia Tech on Feb. 22. Murray was striking the ball well in the early going on Wednesday, taking a 3-1 lead on a perfect crosscourt backhand that was out of Striplin's reach. But a trio of double faults in Murray's next service game allowed Striplin to pull even at three, giving the Yellow Jacket momentum that helped her to a 5-3 advantage.
After Striplin held her break edge to win the first set 6-4, Murray again started strong in the second, particularly in the second game where she used a passing backhand shot to hold serve and take the game after seven deuce points. Both players exchanged breaks over the next few games before Murray rallied from down 40-15 to win her service game and take a 4-2 lead.
But Striplin caught fire after that and won three consecutive games to put Murray on the ropes. In the final game, it was an unforced error and double fault that ended Murray's day as she concluded her season with a 34-13 overall record.
In addition to Rose and Lui, Mosolova will also begin doubles competition Thursday with Keri Robison at the George P. Mitchell Tennis Center.
NCAA Singles Championships
First Round Results/Schedule
#1 Maria Mosolova (NU) def. #57 Andrea Remynse (UCLA), 6-3, 2-6, 6-1
#21 Sanaz Marand (UNC) def. #20 Georgia Rose (NU), 6-2, 6-4
#45 Cristy Striplin (GT) def. #47 Samantha Murray (NU), 6-4, 6-4
