Clippers Advance to Round of 16 as they win 5-1 over Southern New Hampshire
The Clippers , #22, faced off with the Southern New Hampshire University Penmen, #29, in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. The Clippers started off the match with a 3-0 sweep of the doubles.
Ana S.O. Mendes and Adeline Brennan were first to finish at the number three doubles position. After being on serve through 5-4 the Clipper pair was able to gain a break point and took advantage of it as they went up 6-4. The Clippers then held their lead through 7-6 and on the last game held their serve for the 8-6 win.
Maria Ortiz and Juliana Frey at the number two doubles position was also on serve through most of their match. A late break for Ortiz and Frey put them at the advantage. The Clipper pair finished their opponents and collected an 8-6 victory.
Ola Roberts and Yuliya Plevako were on serve through 5-4 themselves at the number one doubles flight. Three games later Roberts and Plevako notched the 8-4 win and gave the Clippers the doubles sweep.
With the Clippers up 3-0, the singles matches hit the court.
Juliana Frey was the first off the courts for the Clippers but it was the Penmen who took the third singles flight match. Frey struggled early in the first set as she fell 1-6. Frey took a small lead in the second set up 3-2 before she was unfortunately broken and fell 3-6.
Adeline Brennan, at the number six singles, was the first off the court with a win for the Clippers. Brennan took an early 3-0 lead in the first set. The Clipper then split the next four games to keep a three game lead; 5-2. Brennan then finished out the set with the following game to win 6-2. Brennan started her second set on serve but still down 2-3. With a service break going her way, Brennan took the lead 4-3. After holding serve through the next two games, Brennan was just one game away from the match. Brennan finished the set with a 6-4 win and gave the Clippers the fourth point.
Clara Catanzano, at the number four singles flight, took to an early 3-0 lead in the first set. After being broken, Catanzano was back on serve and up 3-2. The Clipper then was able to break her opponent once more and hold her service games to take a 6-3 first set win. Catanzano opened the second set on serve through 2-1 before breaking her opponent's service game for a 4-1 lead. A few games later Catanzano marked the fifth point for the Clippers with the 6-2 second set win.
Yuliya Plevako was the next closest to finishing out the match as she had swept the first set all for herself with a 6-0 score. Plevako then found herself down 1-2 after being broken but turned it around and broke her opponent twice to take a 5-2 lead before the Clippers captured their fifth point.
Ola Roberts, #48 in singles in the country, faced off against the #22 singles player in the country at the number one singles flight. Roberts was behind in the first set 2-5 before momentum changed to her side on the court. Roberts then took the next five straight games holding off her opponent to take the first set 7-5. The Clipper took the first game of the second set and then was broken to fall 1-2. Roberts remained one game behind at 3-4 and then fell in the second set 3-6 and headed into the third set but the Clippers took the match.
Maria Ortiz, at the number five singles spot, was broken after taking the first game in the first set. Ortiz unfortunately could not recover in the set and fell 3-6. Ortiz then was looking down at a 1-2 score before changing momentum for herself as she broke her opponent for the 3-2 lead. Ortiz then took the second set 6-2 to force a third set that never was played.
With the win over the Penmen, the Clippers have advanced to the NCAA Division II Round of 16 for the third year in a row. The Clippers will face Augustana in the Round of 16. The Round of 16 through the Championship will be at Sanlando Park in Altamonte Springs, Florida starting Wednesday, May 11th.
