March 10, 2012

Results

LOS ANGELES - LMU women's tennis got off to a great start in their match Saturday against Furman, but was unable to hold on to an early lead falling to the Paladins 4-3. After winning the doubles round and the first two singles matches, Furman (4-7) was able to comeback to win the final four singles matches, leading to a win over LMU (3-9).

Sophomore Reka Rohonyi made a furious rally in the final set of the last singles contest with the overall match tied, but fell to her opponent. Head coach Jamie Sanchez praised her effort stating, "she could have given up if she wanted to, instead she decided she was going to do something about it."

In doubles, Ashley Anderson and Tory Parravi extended their consecutive win streak to six with an 8-2 defeat of Margaret Boyette and Katherine Oudin. The pair has dominated their competition recently giving up no more than five games in any match. April Bisharat and Claudia Razzeto wrapped up the point for the Lions beating Michele Stanford and Amanda Murray 8-5. Bisharat and Razzeto got their second straight win. The round ended on court one with a tough battle between Elisaveta Pironkova and Reka Rohonyi and the Paladin's No. 1 duo of Lauren Kline and Alex Moreno-Kaste. After a slow start by Pironkova and Rohonoyi, the pair fought back but fell to Kline and Moreno-Kaste 8-4.

After obtaining the doubles point, Tory Parravi continued her hot play with a 6-2, 6-2 win over Margaret Boyette. The victory was Parravi's fourth straight, combined with her doubles streak, she has been undefeated in action since a tight singles loss to UC Irvine on Feb. 25. April Bisharat won in No. 1 singles for the second day in a row defeating Lauren Kline 7-5, 6-3.

Furman got their first point of the day after Miya Jin fell to Katherine Oudin 6-1. 6-3. Jin missed the Lions' previous match on Friday versus Cal State Fullerton with a leg injury. The Paladins tightened the match to 3-2 as Alex Moreno-Kaste came from behind to beat Ashley Anderson 2-6, 6-1, 6-4 on court five. Michele Stanford defeated Claudia Razzeto 6-1, 3-6, 6-4 in No. 2 singles tying the contest at three points apiece.

The match came down to court six where sophomore Reka Rohonyi took on Amanda Murray. Rohonoyi won the first set in a tiebreaker, 7-5. She lost the second set 7-5. Murray held a 5-1 lead in the third set before Rohonyi battled back to 5-4 eventually losing 6-4.

Coach Sanchez commented that Rohonoyi's comeback can serve as a teaching moment for his team. The team crowded next to court six to support Rohonyi who battled back when confronted with unfavorable odds. When asked about the impact of Rohonyi's display in the final set with the team watching, Sanchez said that "they should begin to see the whole picture" with regard to the effort needed to win.

The Lions begin WCC conference play Thursday, March 22 at Wells Fargo PCH Cup rival Pepperdine. The match begins at 1:30 p.m.

Singles competition

1. April Bisharat (LMU) def. Lauren Kline (FUR) 7-5, 6-3

2. Michele Stanford (FUR) def. Claudia Razzeto (LMU) 6-1, 3-6, 6-4

3. Tory Parravi (LMU) def. Margaret Boyette (FUR) 6-2, 6-2

4. Katherine Oudin (FUR) def. Miya Jin (LMU) 6-1, 6-3

5. Alex Moreno-Kaste (FUR) def. Ashley Anderson (LMU) 2-6, 6-1, 6-4

6. Amanda Murray (FUR) def. Reka Rohonyi (LMU) 6-7 (5-7), 7-5, 6-4

Doubles competition

1. Lauren Kline/Alex Moreno-Kaste (FUR) def. Elisaveta Pironkova/Reka Rohonyi (LMU) 8-4

2. Ashley Anderson/Tory Parravi (LMU) def. Margaret Boyette/Katherine Oudin (FUR) 8-2

3. April Bisharat/Claudia Razzeto (LMU) def. Michele Stanford/Amanda Murray (FUR) 8-5

-GO LIONS-