Women's tennis wins first AAC championship

[PonyPride]

From SMUMustangs.com:

SMU Women’s Tennis Wins The American Athletic Conference Women’s Tennis Championship

ORLANDO (SMU)- For the first time in program history, the SMU women's tennis is the American Athletic Conference Women's Tennis champions.

The No. 1 seed Mustangs conquered the No. 2 seed UCF 4-0 on Saturday evening at the USTA National Campus capping the most dominate performance in the tournament's nine-year history.

SMU became the first team in tournament history to win all of its singles matches in straight sets without dropping a doubles set all tournament. The Mustangs became only the second team in tournament history to not allow a team point in the tournament, joining UCF's 2019 championship team.

"I'm so proud of this team. This is a huge step forward for our program and the credit goes to them," said head coach Jeff Nevolo "They came out ready to play and believed they could get it done. This was another total team effort and that's what makes it so special."

The 4-0 blank of the Knights marked SMU's third in a row. Each of SMU's conference opponents failed to score a point against the Mustangs. SMU commenced its run in the tournament with a respective 4-0 sweep against the No. 9 seed Tulsa on Thursday. The Mustangs then skunked the No. 4 seed Tulsa on Saturday to secure their spot in the finals.

SMU's triumph also results in the programs first NCAA bid since 2011.

SMU surrendered just two sets all dual. The Mustangs led all doubles play with wins on courts 2 and 3 to secure the 1-0 lead. SMU then won four of the first six singles sets to close in on the sweep. The win was decided by straight set victories on courts 2 through 4.

Taylor Johnson and Lana Mavor set the tone of the day as they won six straight games as they hung a 6-0 bagel on Noel Saidenova and Nandini Sharma to collect SMU's first doubles win on Court 2.

Drew Morris and Hadley Doyle then closed the show with a 6-3 win on Court 3. Morris and Doyle and UCF's Jaleesa Leslie and Anique Kattenberg shared the first six games of the match. The SMU duo held serve at 3-3 then had the biggest break of the day in doubles play to gain the 5-3 lead. Doyle served for the match at 40-15, setting Morris up for two key volleys to secure the 1-0 lead for the Mustangs.

Jackie Nylander and Maja Makoric were tied at 4-4 against Marie Mattel and Sophia Bialy on Court 1 as doubles play was halted.

SMU has now won five doubles points in a row, three of which came en route to the title.

The momentum for the Mustangs fed straight into singles play as courts 2 through 4 finished seconds apart resulting in the sweep.

Taylor Johnson was the first off as she increased SMU's lead to 2-0 with a comfortable 6-1, 6-2 win over Noel Saidenova on Court 2. With the victory, Johnson went undefeated throughout the tournament in both singles and doubles play resulting in her earning her first ever Most Outstanding Performcer of the tournament. The graduate student continues her win streak as she moves to nine straight.

Drew Morris earned the Mustangs third point of the day on Court 3 seconds after Johnson's triumph. Morris snagged SMU's first opening set in singles play with a quick 6-1 victory over Sophia Bialy. Morris was never down in the second as she cruised to a comfortable 6-2 win, upping the ante for Court 4.

Jackie Nylander got the Mustangs second match-clincher of the tournament in as many matches.

Nylander cruised by in her opening set with a 6-1 victory over Nandini Sharma on Court 4. Just as the previous two matches, Nylander held a 5-2 lead with a chance to break for the match. In a dramatic deciding deuce point, Sharma got the hold resulting in Nylander serving for the match at 5-3. Nylander snagged three points, only offering up one with a match point at 40-15. After a 21-ball rally Nylander got her shot with a short forehand winner clinching the match and title for the Mustangs.

The final margin of victory may have resulted in a 7-0 sweep had the match not been clinch-clinch.

Hadley Doyle was on her way to the second biggest win of her career on Court 1. She faced Marie Mattel, No. 38 in the ITA rankings, and rolled to a 6-4 win in the opening set. Play was tied at 3-3 as the match was halted.

Though dropping the opening set 6-4, Lana Mavor was up 4-1 in the second and cruising to a second set win on Court 5.

Maja Makoric had a similar tale as Mavor on Court 6. Makoric clawed out of a 5-2 deficit in the opening set but eventually fell in a tiebreaker. Makoric was on serve, 2-1 in the second as play was halted.

"Coach Shankle and Keberle have been amazing all year and their belief in our program helped push us to this moment. We're also grateful for the efforts from Hannah Letow, Juan Robles, Sam Schuerger and Rex Cuajunco for their support," said Nevolo. "Lastly, we can't thank the administrative staff at SMU for their investment in our program as well as all our supporters. This was a community effort and we plan to keep the momentum going. Pony Up!"

#35 SMU 4, #37 Central Florida 0
Apr 22, 2023 at
Singles Competition
1. #80 Hadley Doyle (SMU) vs. #38 Marie Mattel (UCF) 6-4, 3-3, unfinished
2. Taylor Johnson (SMU) def. Noel Saidenova (UCF) 6-1, 6-2
3. Drew Morris (SMU) def. Sophia Biolay (UCF) 6-1, 6-2
4. Jackie Nylander (SMU) def. Nandini Sharma (UCF) 6-1, 6-3
5. Lana Mavor (SMU) vs. Jaleesa Leslie (UCF) 4-6, 4-1, unfinished
6. Maja Makoric (SMU) vs. Anique Kattenberg (UCF) 6-7, 2-1, unfinished

Doubles Competition
1. Maja Makoric/Jackie Nylander (SMU) vs. Marie Mattel/Sophia Biolay (UCF) 4-4, unfinished
2. Taylor Johnson/Lana Mavor (SMU) def. Noel Saidenova/Nandini Sharma (UCF) 6-0
3. Drew Morris/Hadley Doyle (SMU) def. Jaleesa Leslie/Anique Kattenberg (UCF) 6-3

Match Notes
Order of finish: Doubles (2,3); Singles (2,3,4)
American Athletic Conference Championship Finals