The ASU women’s tennis team split its two duals against top-ranked opponents at the ITA Kick-Off Weekend in Coral Gables, Fla., on Saturday and Sunday.
The No. 20 Sun Devils (3-1) swept No. 22 South Carolina (3-1), 7-0, on Saturday to qualify for the ITA National Team Indoor Championships. ASU then fell 4-3 to No. 11 Miami (3-0) on Sunday.
ASU won two of three doubles matches and took an early lead over the Hurricanes. But the singles matches contributed to the Sun Devils’ downfall.
“We played well but not quite well enough,” ASU coach Sheila McInerney said. “Miami really took it to us at the beginning of the singles.”
ASU freshman Jacqueline Cako was one of only two Sun Devils who won their singles matches. Cako came from behind to defeat Miami junior Anna Bartenstein in two sets (7-6, 6-2).
“The match against Miami was a lot tougher,” Cako said. “I was down 5-2 in the first set and I just played to get up to 6-5. In the tiebreaker I played solid and I came up with a few really good shots.”
In doubles play, Cako teamed up with junior Michelle Brycki. Cako and Brycki achieved their second win of the weekend when they defeated Miami junior Gabriela Mejia and freshman Melissa Bolivar (8-2).
“Michelle and I play together really well for doubles,” Cako said. “Our games compliment each other.”
ASU junior Sianna Simmons and senior Ashlee Brown took an 8-5 victory over Miami sophomore Danielle Mills and freshman Kayla Rizzolo to give the Sun Devils the doubles point.
Seniors Micaela Hein and Kelcy McKenna were the only ASU doubles tandem to lose, falling to Miami senior Bianca Eichkorn and Bartenstein (8-4).
Hein won both her singles matches over the weekend, defeating Mills in two sets and South Carolina sophomore Madeleine Saari-Byström with a 6-2, 7-6(4) victory.
“Miami jumped out to an early lead on a couple of the courts,” McInerney said. “Jacqueline and Micaela held their own though.”
The Sun Devils fought hard to keep up with Miami but fell in the final moments.
“It came down to the last set in the last match of the day,” McInerney said.
ASU sophomore Hannah James, the final Sun Devil on the court, pushed her match to three sets. James was shut out of the first set, battled back to win the second and then fell to Mejia in the final set 1-6.
“It couldn’t have been closer,” McInerney said. “Miami is nothing flashy, but they’re tough out. They’re a defensive team and they make you beat them.”
Reach the reporter at Nicole.klauss@asu.edu
