DeMendoza Named MOP As Terriers Win Conference Title
May 2, 2004 | Women's Tennis
NEW HAVEN, CT-Senior Elena deMendoza (Madrid, Spain) was named the Most Outstanding Performer as the B.U. women's tennis team defeated the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, 4-1, in the title match of the America East Women's Tennis Championship on Sunday, May 2, at the Connecticut Tennis Center.
The victory wrapped up the Terriers' 10th straight Conference title and 14th in the last 15 years. Since 1989, the only year the Terriers did not win the league crown was in 1993 when they opted to play in the ECAC Tournament.
With the victory over UMBC, the Terriers earn the Conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. The first round will be held May 14-16 with the sites and pairings to be announced. This will mark the sixth straight year in which B.U. will represent America East at the NCAAs.
In Sunday's title match, deMendoza defeated the Retrievers' Ale Pedergnana, 6-4, 6-2, at number two singles. In doubles play, deMendoza teamed with sophomore Monica Shepherd (Austin, TX) to win their match at number three, 8-3, over Adriana Fonseca and Elizabeth Anderson.
It was the Terriers' only win in doubles as they dropped the numbers one and two matches, as UMBC came away with the doubles point. At number one, freshman Erin Katims (Boca Raton, FL) and sophomore Aimee Charest (Somerset, MA) lost to Tia Kaasalainen and Lana Khvalina, 8-3, while sophomore Laura Ahmes (Sarasota, FL) and senior Elisa Glas (Irun, Spain) lost a hard-fought 9-8 decision at number two to Pedergnana and Aimee Lin.
This marked the second time in as many days that the Terriers had to come back after losing the doubles point. On Saturday, B.U. was swept in the three doubles matches by Binghamton, but the Terriers bounced back to post a 4-2 win.
Against UMBC, the Terriers won the first four singles matches to sew up the win. As a result, the numbers five and six singles matches were not completed.
At number one, senior captain Lindsey Dynof (Colts Neck, NJ) made her first appearance of the tournament as injuries forced her to the sidelines in the tournament opener against Albany and the semifinal match against Binghamton. Against UMBC, Dynof defeated Kaasalainen, 6-1, 7-6.
Then, after deMendoza's straight-set win over Pedergnana at number two, Katims bested Lim, 6-0, 6-0, at number three, while Glas eliminated Khvalina at number four, 6-3, 6-0.
Ahmes and Charest were on their way to wins, but they did not have to finish their matches. Ahmes was leading Fonseca, 5-2, in the first set at number five, while Charest had a 2-1 first-set lead over Anderson at number six.
In addition to deMendoza, Charest, Dynof, Hernandez, Katims, and Shepherd were named to the All-Conference Team.
