University of Northern Iowa Athletics
University of Northern Iowa
Western Illinois
UNI Blanks Western Illinois in Opener, 7-0
2/13/2006 7:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
WATERLOO, Iowa - UNI defeated Western Illinois University Friday evening at the Black Hawk Tennis Club. The Panthers defeated the Westerwinds, losing only 10 games out of 86 played, and winning by a team score of 7-0.
In No. 1 singles Meghana Paritala (Secunderabad, India) fought off a tough competitor in Andrea Courtney. Paritala was behind in the first set twice before she pulled even 3-3, and then broke serve and never looked back winning the first set 6-3. In the second set Paritala found herself in trouble once again down 1-0 before rattling off six in a row to win 6-1.
Agnese Pukse (Riga, Latvia) blanked Constanza Comacho in her first set, and only gave up one game in the second set, to win No. 2 singles 6-0, 6-1.
Newcomer Taynara Moreas (Santos, Brazil) fought off nerves in her first collegiate tennis match and dominated Jennifer Lutzke in No. 3 singles winning 6-1, 6-2.
Junior Mariana Muraca (Sao Paulo, Brazil) swept Tracey Forkin 6-1, 6-0 in No. 4 singles and junior Meredith Esbeck (Des Moines, Iowa) did the same winning over Dannielle Moy 6-2, 6-0, in No. 5 singles. Sara Kendall gains her first win of the season by forfeit at No. 6.
In doubles competition the No. 1 team of Paritala and Muraca skunked WIU's Lutzke and Forkin 8-0. The Panther's No. 2 doubles team consisting of Pukse and Moreas won in dominating fashion as well, taking out WIU's Camacho and Moy 8-1. The Panther's No. 3 doubles team of Sara Kendall (Brisbane, Queensland) won by forfeit at No. 3.
"It was a great way to start the season," said Pukse, "It wasn't the best tennis we have ever played but we will always play our hardest to get the win."
