Tennis Team Defeats Ulm, 5-2

[SUMG]

DENTON, Texas (3/28/08) – Idalina Franca’s cross-court lob shot clinched the Mean Green tennis team’s 5-2 win over Sun Belt rival Louisiana at Monroe.

The squad’s lone senior sealed the match for North Texas (10-7, 4-2 Sun Belt), and put the finishing touches on a 6-1, 7-6 (7-5) win in the No. 4 singles position. Franca has won four of her last five matches, and helped drop the Warhawks to 7-10.

“It was important for us to come out of doubles with a win in order for us to put the pressure on ULM,” Franca said. “I thought that I played well overall, but I kind of got away from my game for a bit. After I settled down, I was able to get back into my game.”

The reigning Sun Belt player of the week, Madura Ranganathan, rolled to her fourth straight win. The freshman is now 11-6 on the year, mostly in the No. 1 singles slot. Her last two opponents have combined to take just one game from her.

After losing the doubles point in their last outing versus Marquette, the Mean Green came out of the gate on fire versus the Warhawks. NT swept all three doubles matches to put ULM in an early hole.

The Mean Green returns to action next weekend in Tulsa, Okla. versus Houston and Tulsa.

[CMJ]

Ladies really seem to be playing well right now. Wish we hosted the SBC tourney THIS year.