April 20, 2008

Moraga, Calif. - Aglaya Kokurina's victory at No. 1 singles propelled the Gonzaga University women's tennis team to a seventh place finish at the West Coast Conference Championship Sunday as the Zags defeated University of Portland 4-3. The seventh place finish marks the first time since 2004 the Bulldogs have finished seventh. In 2004 GU tied for seventh, while in 2002 it outright won the spot.

Gonzaga posted the early doubles point, taking the No. 2 and 3 spots. The Pilots got an early edge, as Megan Sporndli and Lindsey Griffin posted an 8-3 win at No. 1 over Emily Anderson and Aglaya Kokurina. Gonzaga then rallied at No. 2, as Rika Mehndiratta and Danille Farmer earned an 8-5 win over Christine Feyen and Stefanie Doolittle. The Bulldogs earned the point, thanks to an 8-5 win by Sydney Lederhouse and Clare Dodge over Anna Guillickson and Jenks.

The battle continued in singles play, as both teams battled down to the last set. Portland knotted the score 1-1 thanks to a No. 6 6-3, 6-2 victory by Doolittle over Farmer. The Pilots then took a 2-1 edge following a Jenna Tanzer 6-3, 6-0 victory at No. 3 against Dodge. The Zags came back at No. 3, tying the score 2-2, thanks to a Mehndiratta 6-4, 6-1 victory over Feyen. GU then regained the lead as Anderson defeated Griffing at No. 2, 6-4, 6-4. Once again, the score became tied after Portland's Guillickson posted a three-set 3-6, 6-4, 6-2 win at No. 5 over Lederhouse.

The match came down to the top spot, where Kokurina posted a three-set victory over Sporndli. After falling behind early, the junior rallied to post a 4-6, 6-4, 7-5 victory to give the Zags a seventh place finish.

The Bulldogs finished the 2008 season with a 10-14 record.

*Match Nine Results - GON 4, POR 3*
Doubles
   1. Sporndli/Griffin (POR) def. Anderson/Kokurina (GON), 8-3
   2. Mehndiratta/Farmer (GON) def. Feyen/Doolittle (POR), 8-5
   3. Lederhouse/Dodge (GON) def. Gullickson/Jenks (POR), 8-5
Order of Finish: 1, 2, 3
Singles
   1. Aglyaya Kokurina (GON) def. Megan Sporndle (POR), 4-6, 6-4, 7-5
   2. Emily Anderson (GON) def. Lindsey Griffin (POR), 6-4, 6-4
   3. Rika Mehndiratta (GON) def. Christie Feyen (POR), 6-4, 6-1
   4. Jenna Tanzer (POR) def. Clare Dodge (GON), 6-3, 6-0
   5. Anna Gullickson (POR) def. Sydney Lederhouse (GON), 3-6, 6-4, 6-2
   6. Stefanie Doolittle (POR) def. Danielle Farmer (GON), 6-3, 6-2
Order of Finish: 6, 4, 3, 2, 5, 1