University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics

Ragin' Cajuns Fall To No. 64 UTA In SBC Championships, 4-1
4/22/2016 3:28:00 PM | Women's Tennis
Mavs claim four singles matches to advance to semifinals
NEW ORLEANS – Abby Johnson and Alexandra Way clinched the doubles point for the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns, but No. 64-ranked UT Arlington came back claiming four singles matches to claim a 4-1 victory in the quarterfinals of the Sun Belt Conference Women's Tennis Championships on Friday at City Park/Pepsi Tennis Center.
UTA (17-4), the No. 3 seed in the 10-team field, advanced to face No. 2-seeded South Alabama in the semifinals on Saturday. Louisiana, under first-year coach Stephanie Vallejos, finished its season at 11-10 overall.
Louisiana, which dropped a 4-0 decision to the Mavs on March 26, got off to a quick start as Melissa Burckhartt and Kelly Drew won their fifth straight match at No. 1 doubles, claiming a 6-4 win over Angeles de los Rios and Elizabeth Thoms.
Johnson and Way, who finished 9-7 overall in doubles play on the season, gave Louisiana a 1-0 lead as they came back from a 6-5 deficit at No. 2 doubles and claimed a 7-6 (7-5) win over Jessica Birowski and Astrid Gehre.
UTA regained momentum in singles play, tying the match at 1-1 as de los Rios claimed a 6-0, 6-3 win over Elena Sava at No. 2. The Mavs took a 2-1 lead at No. 1 singles as Thoms posted a 6-4, 6-1 win over Drew before Gehre defeated Dana Brankovic, 6-1, 6-2, at No. 5.
Birwoski clinched the match for UTA at No. 4 singles as she recorded a 6-4, 6-4 win over Johnson.
#64 UT Arlington 4, Louisiana 1
April 22, 2016 at New Orleans, La. (City Park/Pepsi Tennis Center)
Singles competition
1. Elizabeth Thoms (UTA) def. Kelly Drew (UL) 6-4, 6-1
2. Angeles de los Rios (UTA) def. Elena Sava (UL) 6-0, 6-3
3. Agustina Serio (UTA) vs. Melissa Burckhartt (UL) 6-3, 4-4, unfinished
4. Jessica Birowski (UTA) def. Abby Johnson (UL) 6-3, 6-3
5. Astrid Gehre (UTA) def. Dana Brankovic (UL) 6-1, 6-2
6. Carla Verdan Vives (UTA) vs. Alexandra Way (UL) 6-0, 4-6, 1-0, unfinished
Doubles competition
1. Melissa Burckhartt/Kelly Drew (UL) def. Angeles de los Rios/Elizabeth Thoms (UTA) 6-4
2. Abby Johnson/Alexandra Way (UL) def. Jessica Birowski/Astrid Gehre (UTA) 7-6 (7-5)
3. Valeria Lopez/Agustina Serio (UTA) vs. Juliette Clement/Elena Sava (UL) 6-6, unfinished
Match Notes
Louisiana 11-10
UT Arlington 17-4; National ranking #64
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2); Singles (2,1,5,4)
UTA (17-4), the No. 3 seed in the 10-team field, advanced to face No. 2-seeded South Alabama in the semifinals on Saturday. Louisiana, under first-year coach Stephanie Vallejos, finished its season at 11-10 overall.
Louisiana, which dropped a 4-0 decision to the Mavs on March 26, got off to a quick start as Melissa Burckhartt and Kelly Drew won their fifth straight match at No. 1 doubles, claiming a 6-4 win over Angeles de los Rios and Elizabeth Thoms.
Johnson and Way, who finished 9-7 overall in doubles play on the season, gave Louisiana a 1-0 lead as they came back from a 6-5 deficit at No. 2 doubles and claimed a 7-6 (7-5) win over Jessica Birowski and Astrid Gehre.
UTA regained momentum in singles play, tying the match at 1-1 as de los Rios claimed a 6-0, 6-3 win over Elena Sava at No. 2. The Mavs took a 2-1 lead at No. 1 singles as Thoms posted a 6-4, 6-1 win over Drew before Gehre defeated Dana Brankovic, 6-1, 6-2, at No. 5.
Birwoski clinched the match for UTA at No. 4 singles as she recorded a 6-4, 6-4 win over Johnson.
#64 UT Arlington 4, Louisiana 1
April 22, 2016 at New Orleans, La. (City Park/Pepsi Tennis Center)
Singles competition
1. Elizabeth Thoms (UTA) def. Kelly Drew (UL) 6-4, 6-1
2. Angeles de los Rios (UTA) def. Elena Sava (UL) 6-0, 6-3
3. Agustina Serio (UTA) vs. Melissa Burckhartt (UL) 6-3, 4-4, unfinished
4. Jessica Birowski (UTA) def. Abby Johnson (UL) 6-3, 6-3
5. Astrid Gehre (UTA) def. Dana Brankovic (UL) 6-1, 6-2
6. Carla Verdan Vives (UTA) vs. Alexandra Way (UL) 6-0, 4-6, 1-0, unfinished
Doubles competition
1. Melissa Burckhartt/Kelly Drew (UL) def. Angeles de los Rios/Elizabeth Thoms (UTA) 6-4
2. Abby Johnson/Alexandra Way (UL) def. Jessica Birowski/Astrid Gehre (UTA) 7-6 (7-5)
3. Valeria Lopez/Agustina Serio (UTA) vs. Juliette Clement/Elena Sava (UL) 6-6, unfinished
Match Notes
Louisiana 11-10
UT Arlington 17-4; National ranking #64
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2); Singles (2,1,5,4)
Players Mentioned
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