ST. GEORGE - The best way to describe Southern Utah women's tennis is diversity.
With four international players holding the top four positions on the team, T-Birds coach Lenny Lee said this season has certainly been fun and interesting. Well the good times kept rolling for SUU after its stellar 6-3 win over southern rival Dixie State Thursday at Green Valley Resort, securing the season series sweep.
"It's a nice geographical rivalry and we love coming down here to play," said Lee after the T-Birds improved to 7-8 overall.
The T-Birds international players made certain SUU's undefeated mark (historically) against the Red Storm (7-9) stayed intact.
Ksusha Nazarova (Moscow, Russia) made quick work of Lydia Hays (Salt Lake City, UT/Skyline ) in No. 1 singles (6-0 and 6-0). Teammates Olga Tatarchenko (Rostov On Don, Russia) and Carmen Blanco (Salamanca, Spain) won their respective singles matches over Alicia Holm (Henderson, NV/Green Valley) and Courtney Kezerian (Orem, UT/Orem) respectively.
Last but not least, Kirrily Burden (Victoria, Australia) joined forces with Blanco to pick up a No. 2 doubles win against DSC's Hays and Ashley Lafeen (Murray. UT/Murray HS).
However, Burden - a junior - was forced to retire because of injury during her No. 3 singles match against Lafeen after trailing 4-1 in the first set.
"She's (Burden) been battling a rib injury and we took some precaution today because we're going to need her for conference play next week," Lee said.
Nazarova's on court personality reflects her demeanor off it: ambitious, competitive, and dedication. Highly ranked in her native country, SUU's top player strives to live and compete in the United States. After several courses and exams with a brief stay in Chicago, Nazarova made it happen once Lee helped recruit her to Cedar City last year.
The sophomore plays fast and equally as aggressive regardless what the score dictates. Against Hays she didn't miss a beat, hitting ground strokes with pin-point accuracy down the singles lines.
Usually an effective net player, the junior said she stayed more with a baseline attack Thursday due to not feeling comfortable on the court after having the last week off.
One of the most compelling matches of the evening was in No. 2 singles.
Holm - a DSC freshman - is certainly going through a learning curve this season. With just two wins thus far, Holm said she's staying positive with a continual effort to improve. And that was evident in her 3-6, 6-2, and 1-0 (4-10) loss to Tatarchenko.
The Red Storm prospect said it was an exhausting, yet, fun match to play as her northern rival reflected her own power tennis style of play.
With neither baseline player giving in, the contest came down to stamina. Powerful forehands and backhands - which resulted in long rallies - kept patrons, players and coaches on edge for most of the hour and a half match.
The pair split the first two sets before going to a super tie-breaker, which Tatarchenko's endurance proved too much in the end.
Said Holm: "The first set I was able to move her around and hit the ball deep, putting her on the defense. É I started to wear down late in the second set. I thought I started playing better in the second set (after being down 5-1), but it was a little too late. That's OK though. I think I played well and these are the kinds of matches I need right now. "
Other notables included SUU's Kristi Latteier defeated Adrienne Davis (Salt Lake City, UT/Olympus) in straight sets, 6-1 and 6-2. Lauren Tarver (Wrightwood. CA/Serrano) secured DSC's other singles match win with her 6-1, 6-1 def. of Mandi Divino.
