1998 NCAA DIVISION I WOMEN'S TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIP
May 21-29
Courtney Tennis Center
University of Notre Dame
Mississippi 5, Arizona State 2
Singles
Agnes Muzamel (M) def. Reka Cseresnyes, 6-3, 6-2
Ivona Mihailova (M) def. Karin Palme, 2-6, 6-3, 7-6 (2)
Courtenay Chapman (M) def. Alison Nash, 2-6, 7-5, 6-3
Katy Propstra (A) def. Martina Crha, 6-3, 6-4
Mariana Eberle (M) def. Kerry Giardino, 4-6, 6-1, 6-1
Celena McCoury (A) def. Missy Brewer, 7-6 (4), 6-3
Doubles
Chapman and Muzamel (M) def. Lansdorp and Propstra, 8-2
Eberle and Iv. Mihailova (M) vs. McCoury and Nash, Abandoned (2-0 M)
Cseresnyes and Palme (A) vs. Crha and Irena Mihailova, Abandoned (1-0 A)
Postmatch Quotes
Arizona State head coach Shelia McInerney
On her team's performance:
"To be honest with you,
although we lost we played exceptionally well aganist a great
team in Mississippi. Unfortunately for us we lost three matches
where we won the first set and one of our kids had match point
and lost in the third set. Overall we played well, but the better
team won today.
On Allison Nash's match:
"It was 7-6 in the third set
and both kids played great. The both of them were hitting the
ball well at the end for playing such a long match. I felt
Allison came back well after she lost the second set by coming
back to get it to the tiebreaker in the third set. She's a tough
competitor.
Mississippi head coach Jerry Montgomery
On his team's play:
"This is one of the best wins that
we have in this Mississippi program. Both teams played hard and I
give my hat off to Arizona State and their coach Shelia
McInerney. She got them up to play and we had to fight them to
the finish to get the win.
On being an automatic qualifier:
"What makes this win so
special is that this is the first time that we didn't have to
play a regional to get here. Before, by playing in the regionals
it took a toll on some of our players and then we would come out
flat in the Championships. The last two years we made it to the
final 16 teams playing tired. By getting a few weeks off we got
some good practice time to prepare for the tough competion.
On the singles' matches:
"At the number two and three
singles matches we were down the first set and came back to win
those matches. I feel that our team came out fresh and was
prepared well to win."
Mississippi player Ivona Mihailova
On her performance:
"I came out here today really
focused on playing each point as my last. Last year playing
number three singles I was beaten bad and I didn't want to have a
repeat performance.
On the third set:
"I saw all my teammates were up and I
was struggling a little bit. Some of my teammates rallied around
me, which help motivate me and push me over the edge. I'm glad I
have such a great team that can support one another like that."
