No. 3 Women's Tennis Downs No. 6 Texas, 4-3

Sunday, March 4

Austin, Texas

TBA

Duke University

Texas

No. 3 Women's Tennis Downs No. 6 Texas, 4-3

3/4/2001 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis

By: Duke Sports Information

Courtesy of Texas Sports Information

AUSTIN, Texas - The No. 6 ranked University of Texas women's tennis team (7-1 overall) fell to No. 3 Duke, 4-3, on Sunday, March 4, at Penick-Allison Tennis Center in Austin, Texas. The loss marks the first defeat of the 2001 dual match season for the Horns. Duke improves to 8-1 overall on the season.

The Horns were led early on in doubles by the No. 9 nationally-ranked duo of senior Janet Walker (Seffner, Fla./Canterbury) and junior Vladka Uhlirova (Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic/Sam Houston State) who pulled an upset victory over No. 3 Amanda Johnson and Megan Miller (8-5) at the No. 1 spot. At the No. 3 position, juniors Joanne Masongsong (Miami, Fla./Sunset) and Rebekah Forney (New Braunfels, Texas/New Braunfels) picked up their third doubles victory of the 2001 season, downing Hillary Adams and Katie Granson (8-3). With the victories, Texas took an early 1-0 lead heading into singles action.

The Blue Devils dominated singles play from the beginning, winning four out of the first five matches finished, to clinch the victory. UT was highlighted in singles by the play of Masongsong, who upset No. 11 Kathy Sell (4-6, 6-2, 6-4) at the No. 4 spot and Smashey, who downed Granson (6-2, 6-3) to deliver at the No. 5 position.

"I think the team learned some valuable lessons from this match," head coach Jeff Moore said. You have to come out in the beginning of the match and be willing to exchange and play long points. We had won the doubles point, then came out and looked like we were behind. We may have played a little hurried during singles and Duke is too solid of a team to do that against. The exception to that is Joanne (Masongsong) and Kaysie (Smashey). They both came out and took it to their opponents right away and were relentless from beginning to end. Win or lose, the way you begin a match will impact the flow of the rest of the match."

Texas returns to action on Sunday, March 11, when it travels to take on No. 22 UCLA in a 3 p.m. match at the Los Angeles Tennis Center in Los Angeles. Check www.TexasSports.com for all the latest Texas women's tennis news.

No. 6 Texas vs. No. 3 Duke-- Sunday, March 4
Penick-Allison Tennis Center--Austin, Texas
Final Score -- Duke 4, Texas 3
Singles
1. Ansley Cargill (Duke) def. Janet Walker (Texas), 6-1, 6-1
2. Megan Miller (Duke) def. Vladka Uhlirova (Texas), 6-3, 6-4
3. Amanda Johnson (Duke) def. Rebekah Forney (Texas), 6-2, 6-4
4. Joanne Masonsong (Texas) def. Kathy Sell (Duke), 4-6, 6-2, 6-4
5. Kaysie Smashey (Texas) def. Katie Granson (Duke), 6-1, 6-4
6. Hillary Adams (Duke) def. Michelle Krinke (Texas), 6-2, 6-3

Doubles
1. Janet Walker/Vladka Uhlirova (Texas) def. Megan Miller/Amanda Johnson (Duke), 8-5
2. Ansley Cargill/Kathy Sell (Duke) def. Kaysie Smashey/Michelle Krinke (Texas), 8-2
3. Rebekah Forney/Joanne Masongsong (Texas) def. Hillary Adams/Katie Granson (Duke), 8-3

Records
Texas 7-1; Duke 8-1