Tuesday, March 13, 2007 - Santa Barbara, Calif.
Final: Sunbirds defeat UC Santa Barbara 6-1

Santa Barbara - A rare loss at No. 1 doubles proved to be a minor pothole as the Sunbirds rolled another NCAA Division I opponent.

Today, at the Robertson Gymnasium Courts, the Sunbirds, on the strength of singles wins at No. 1-5, dumped the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos 6-1. It is the FPU's 12th consecutive win this season and fourth over a Division I opponent.

Jelena Pandzic and Audrey Laib had few answers for Charlotte Scatliffe and Marta Simic in the top doubles match of the day. Scatliffe and Simic stream-rolled Pandzic & Laib 8-3. It was the first loss of the season at No. 1 doubles for FPU.

The Sunbirds rebounded to earn the doubles point with wins at No. 2 and No. 3: Angelina Minova & Anna Karavayeva defeated Carina Bjornstrom & Asagi Onaga 9-7, while Megan Hanner & Amandine Ferot defeated Bryana Qjeda & Noelle Hirniese 8-6.

In singles play Pandzic made short work of Simic with a 6-1, 6-2 win at No. 1. Minova followed suite with a 6-3, 6-3 win over Bjornstrom at No. 2, while at No. 4 Laib defeated Qjeda in straight sets (7-5, 6-4). Ferot was a 7-5, 6-2 winner over Kristen Wilson at No. 5. Only Karavayeva needed a three sets to settle the issue with Onaga (6-4, 6-7 (4), (10-8) at No. 3. The Gauchos lone win of the day came at No. 6 where Hirniese defeated Hanner 6-2, 6-4.

"This was a good match for us, especially in doubles play," said FPU head coach Neil Castro. "It was pretty interesting. We played well in singles, but they jumped on Jelena (Pandzic) and Audrey (Laib) early and smothered them and they never really got into the match. This is a test we can learn from."

The Sunbirds continue their road trip to Indian Wells where they will face Westmont in a non-GSAC affair on Thursday morning.

Saturday the Sunbirds return to the Haak Tennis Complex to host Concordia. The first ball will be served at 1:00 PM.

Updated Records
Sunbirds: 12-0, (#2 NAIA)
Gauchos: 4-5 (NCAA Div. I)

Series
First meeting