NORFOLK, Va. (April 19, 2009) With a dramatic 6-1, 7-6 (7-5) win over Mihaela Buneau at No. 6 singles, Freshman Martina Ondrackova sealed Georgia State's 4-3 win against No. 2 seed VCU, (No. 49 nationally) to clinch the 2009 Colonial Athletic Association title on Sunday afternoon at the Folkes-Stevens Tennis Center. This is the first ever conference title in the history of the Georgia State women's tennis program.
With the championship win, Georgia State earns the CAA automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, the first ever appearance for the women's tennis team.
“VCU played a great match and it could have gone either way, luckily it went our way today,” said head coach and 2009 CAA Coach of the Year, Miha Lisac. “I'm very happy for the team and for the ladies, individually. They've worked hard over the past two years to achieve what we have achieved today and it's exciting to see it all come together this way.”
Georgia State jumped out to an early lead after winning two doubles matches to pick up the point. At No. 1 doubles, Martina Nitkova and Katerina Gresova defeated VCU's Ana Bara and Laura Burns, 8-5. Martina Ondrackova and Linda Hricistova grabbed the point with a 9-7 win over Alex Bara and Kateryna Yergina to put the Panthers up 1-0.
The Panthers continued the momentum in singles competition, winning two straight to earn a 3-0 lead. 2009 CAA Rookie and Player of the Year, Diana Nakic, defeated Ana Bara 6-4, 6-2 on court one and Martina Nitkova picked up a point on court two against Kateryna Yergina, putting State in a position to win the match with one point.
However the Rams rallied back to win three straight singles matches at No. 3, 4 and 5. Dariana Kozmina fell 6-2, 6-3 to Laura Burns at No. 3 while Alex Bara downed Katerina Gresova 6-1, 6-4 at No. 4. VCU earned its third point as Olena Leonchuk took a 6-1, 6-3 victory over Kiara Powell at No. 5 singles.
With the score tied 3-3, the match came down to one point on court six as Martina Ondrackova and Mihaela Buneau battled it out for the match victory and conference title.
Ondrackova cruised to a win in the first set, 6-1 and 7-6(7-5) in the second to clinch the point and the CAA title.
“This is great for the players, especially the seniors, to be a part of the first women's tennis team to win a conference title and to travel to the NCAAs. It's huge and I'm so proud of them all,” said Lisac. “We've had a lot of support from parents and families, as well as staff, and the men's team hung around to cheer us on in the semifinals yesterday. All of it has given us a boost this weekend and I'm so thankful.”
The CAA Championship is a cap on an impressive season for the Panthers. Last week, the CAA announced Miha Lisac as CAA Women's Tennis Coach of the Year, Freshman Diana Nakic was named CAA Rookie and Player of the Year, and four athletes earned All-CAA honors.
NCAA Championship seeding and pairings will be announced April 28 with the first and second rounds being held May 8-9 or May 9-10, location to be determined. The finals are scheduled for May 15-25 at the Texas A&M Tennis Center in College Station, TX.
Check GeorgiaStateSports.com for women's tennis action!
#1 Georgia State 4, #2 VCU 3
Singles
#1 Diana Nakic (GSU) d. Ana Bara (VCU), 6-4, 6-2
#2 Martina Nitkova (GSU) d. Kateryna Yergina (VCU), 6-0, 2-0, ret.
#3 Laura Burns (VCU) d. Dariana Kozmina (GSU), 6-2, 6-3
#4 Alex Bara (VCU) d. Katerina Gresova (GSU), 6-1, 6-4
#5 Olena Leonchuk (VCU) d. Kiara Powell (GSU), 6-1, 6-3
#6 Martina Ondrackova (GSU) d. Mihaela Bunea (VCU), 6-1, 7-6 (7-5)
Doubles
#1 Nitkova/Gresova (GSU) d. Ana Bara/Burns (VCU), 8-5
#2 Ondrackova/Linda Hricistova (GSU) d. Alex Bara/Yergina (VCU), 9-7
#3 Leonchuk/Bunea (VCU) d. Kozmina/Powell (GSU), 8-4
