Temple University Athletics
Women's Tennis Falls In A-10 Championship To Richmond, 4-0
4.19.09 | Women's Tennis
April 19, 2009
MONROEVILLE, PA - Temple came up short in its attempt to defend its Atlantic 10 Championship, falling the finals to top-seeded Richmond, 4-0, on Sunday at Club 4 Life. The loss snaps a nine-match winning streak for the Owls, who finish the season with a 17-6 record.
The Spiders claimed their sixth A-10 crown, including fifth in the last six seasons, and advance to next month's NCAA Women's Tennis Championship.
Richmond jumped out to a 1-0 lead after capturing the doubles point as Pamela Duran and Isabel Arana were victorious at second doubles, 8-1, while senior Ashlee Vosters and junior Erin Clark rallied from a 4-3 deficit in to secure the winning point with an 8-5 victory over Temple's Elyse Steiner and Lucie Pazderova at the No. 1 flight.
Junior Erin Clark pushed the Spiders' advantage to 2-0 with a 6-3, 6-0 win versus Pazderova at second singles before Duran recorded a 6-1, 6-2 victory over Steiner at the No. 1 flight.
Freshman Helen Cunningham's overhead slam on match point punctuated her 6-3, 6-1 defeat of Temple's Anastasia Rukavyshnykova at fourth singles, setting off an on-court celebration by the jubilant Spiders.
TU senior Felicia Frazier was leading Vosters at No. 6 singles, 7-5, 3-1, at the time the match was decided. The second-seeded Owls were making their eighth all-time finals appearance and vying for their fifth A-10 crown in program history.
The Owls will return eight letterwinners next season in hopes of returning to the Atlantic 10 finals.
