Women's Tennis Team Bows Out in NCAAs
May 15, 1999 | Women's Tennis
The Terrier women's tennis team bowed to the nation's ninth-ranked Pepperdine Waves on Saturday, 5-0, in the first round of the NCAA Division 1 Women's Tennis Tournament at Malibu, CA. Under NCAA rules, the first team to reach five points in the match wins. If a match is still being played, it is stopped at that point and noted as suspened. Such was the case at fourth singles where the Terriers' Carrie Rose was in the third set of her match against Pepperdine's Nicola Kaiwai. At thepoint os suspension., Rose had spilt the first two sets, winning the first, 6-3, and losing the second, 2-6.
Kaiwai took an early lead in the third set, 1-0 when the match was suspended.
It marked the first time in the 23-year history of women's tennis at B.U. that the Terriers had qualifed for the NCAAs. The loss, which ended a seven-match win streak for B.U., ended the Terriers' season at 15-10.
"I have mixed emotions," said B.U. coach Lesley Sheehan, who earlier had been named the America East Coach of the Year after guiding her team to their fifth straight conference title.
"We did OK in some matches, and not as well in others," said the coach.
B.U. fared best in Rose's match at number four singles and at number three singles where freshman Christina Causway lost, 2-6, 4-6.
Disappointments came at number two singles where senior co-captain Jennifer Momii, who had been named the outstanding performer at the America East championships, lost 0-6, 0-6. Also, junior Karen Shostakovsky lost at number five singles, 0-6, 0-6, while junior Chrissy Cerretani lost at number six, 1-6, 0-6.
Number one singles player junior Selin Nassi lost in straight sets, 3-6, 1-6, but she was hampered by a pulled left achilles tendon that she suffered at the end of the first game of the first set.
"Generally, I thought we played well," said Sheehan. "We pushed them in some of the matches.
"However, in some of the other matches, I thought we had chances to take control, and we just couldn't seem to.
"I think the NCAA experience of Pepperdine showed," continued the coach. "This was the first time we have ever been in the tournament, and this should give us the motivation we need to improve on certain areas next year.
"I am really proud of our team, and what they were able to accomplish this year," summed up the coach. "At one point, this spring we were 3-7.
But, the players worked hard and came back to win our last seven matches.
"During that stretch, we played a very high level of tennis on a consistent basis.
"Against Pepperdine, we made shots that had been winners for us during the spring. But, they were able to return those winners and convert them to winners of their own.
"We plan to be back next year."
1999 NCAA Women's Tennis First Round Regional Hosted by Pepperdine University at the Ralphs-Straus Tennis Center in Malibu, California Saturday, May 15, 1999
#8 Pepperdine (23-4) vs. #71 Boston University (15-9)
Singles No. 1 Angela Lawrence (#31) def. Selin Nassi: 6-3, 6-1 No. 2 Ipek Senoglu (#86) def. Jenni Momii: 6-0, 6-0 No. 3 *Paola Palencia (#89) def. Christina Causway: 6-2, 6-4 No. 4 Carrie Rose, BU vs Nicola Kaiwai, PU 6-3, 2-6, 0-1, (Match suspended) No. 5 Anh Nguyen def. Karen Shostakovsky: 6-0, 6-0 No. 6 Cintia Tortorella def. Chrissie Cerretani: 6-1, 6-0Doubles No. 1 Lawrence / Senoglu (#7) Cerretani / Nassi: Doubles not played. No. 2 Kaiwai / Palencia (#45) Momii / Rose: Doubles not played. No. 3 Nguyen / Tortorella Mary Granger / Shostakovsky: Doubles not played.
Final Score - Pepperdine (5), Boston U. (0)
Match Notes - With the win, Pepperdine advances to the second round and will face either LSU or Ohio State on Sunday beginning at noon. Boston University completes the season with a dual match mark of 15-10. Today marked Boston University's first-ever appearance in the NCAA Championships. Pepperdine won its 13th consecutive match and is now 24-4 in dual match action.
