University of South Florida
Ohio State
Bulls Beat Buckeyes 4-3
February 16, 2008 | Women's Tennis
COLUMBUS, Ohio ? Senior Liz Cruz led the No. 31 University of South Florida women's tennis to its seventh victory of the season in dramatic fashion Saturday afternoon as the Bulls edged the Ohio State Buckeyes, 4-3 at the Ohio State Varsity Tennis Center in Columbus, Ohio.
The Buckeyes (4-2) came out of the gates strong, winning the doubles point for the first time in their last four matches.
The No. 40-ranked doubles tandem of Iciri Rai and Liz Cruz lost their first match of the year playing at the No. 2 spot when Cami Hubbs and Julie Blackmore got the best of the nationally-ranked duo, 8-6.
After falling behind 1-0 to the No. 47 Buckeyes, the Bulls showed resiliency and determination in singles, coming back to win four-of-six, en route to their seventh victory of the season.
The match of the afternoon came at the No. 4 singles position where Cruz and Julie Blackmore squared off for the first time in their collegiate careers. After falling behind to her opponent 5-3 in the first set, Cruz battled back to win four-straight games to take the first set, 7-5.
Blackmore battled back in the second set, taking a four game to one lead before Cruz knotted the game up at four. Blackmore proved to be too much in the second set for the senior out of El Salvador, winning the next two games, to take the second set, 6-4.
In the final set, the two student-athletes continued their see-saw battle with Blackmore taking the first three games in the set. With her teammates cheering her on, Cruz overcame the three-game deficit, taking the next six games from Blackmore in what would conclude the three and a half hour marathon match, 7-5, 4-6, 6-3.
Freshman Janette Bejikova remained perfect on the season picking up her second victory on the season with her win against Angela DiPastina, 6-4, 6-2, at the top singles spot.
Iciri Rai and Jessica Zok picked up USF's other two victories at the No. 3 and 5 singles spot, defeating Christina Keesey and Cami Hubbs at their respected position.
The Bulls (7-2) will return to the courts tomorrow when they travel to South Bend, Ind. to take on the No. 14 Fighting Irish of Notre Dame. In their last meeting, the Bulls defeated the Irish to win the school's first ever BIG EAST Championship. First serve is set for 10 a.m. and you can follow all of the action with live stats by clicking HERE
Ohio State vs. South Florida
Feb. 16, 2008, Columbus, Ohio
No. 31 South Florida 4, No. 47 Ohio State 3
Singles
No. 1- Janette Bejlkova (USF) def. Angela DiPastina (OSU), 6-3, 6-2
No. 2- Paloma Escobedo (OSU) def. Ally Mueller (USF), 6-2, 6-2
No. 3- Jessica Zok (USF) def. Christina Keesey (OSU), 6-3, 6-3
No. 4- Liz Cruz (USF) def. Julie Blackmore (OSU) 7-5, 4-6, 6-3
No. 5- Iciri Rai (USF) def. Cami Hubbs (OSU), 6-2, 1-6, 6-0
No. 6- Caitlin O'Keefe (OSU) def. No. 71 Natalia Guevera (USF), 6-4, 6-4
Doubles
No. 1- DiPastina/Christina Keesey (OSU) def. Jessica Zok/Ally Mueller (USF) 9-7(6)
No. 2- Julie Blackmore/Cami Hubbs (OSU) def. Iciri Rai/Liz Cruz (USF), 8-6
No. 3- Paloma Escobedo/Caitlin O'Keefe (OSU) def. Natalia Guevera/Janette Bejlkova (USF), 8-5
Finishing Orders:
Doubles: 3,2*,1
Singles: 1,5,6,2,3,4*
* Clinching point
