Sept. 24, 2010
Contact: Brian McCann
EAST LANSING, Mich. -- The Vikings battled tough weather conditions to go 6-7 in singles while advancing three doubles teams to the second round of their respective championship draws to highlight play on the first day of the Michigan State Invitational on Friday.
"Today was a tough day to play because of the weather conditions," CSU head coach Brian Etzkin said. "It was really windy with gusts between 30 and 40 miles per hour and we normally would have played inside, but it helped us work on our mental game.
"We got off to a great start in doubles but we were a little up and down after that. We played pretty well against a strong tournament field but I think we can do better. That will give us something to work on during the next two days.
"Overall, I am encouraged by our play. We are a very young team but I think we aren't playing like a young team."
Sophomore Mengdi Liu continued her unbeaten fall, sweeping a pair of matches in straight sets to advance to the semi-finals of the Draw E Singles. She routed Louisville's Stefanie Villajuan, 6-1, 6-4 in her opening match and then blasted Alexandra Forsyth from IPFW, 6-3, 6-3 in the afternoon.
Liu went 3-0 last week at Bowling Green to win the No. 8 Singles title and is now 5-0 this fall in singles.
"Mengdi has really stood out for us this fall by claiming a bunch of wins at the bottom of the lineup. She is really making a case for a spot in the lineup next spring," Etzkin said.
Sophomore Nicole Janek, a native of Clarkston, Mich., came back from a one set deficit to knock off Toledo's Alexandra Cristello, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 before dropping a second round decision to Amelia Harris from Louisville, 7-5, 7-5.
Junior Catrine Bjerrehuse continued to battle an injured knee. Playing in the A Singles draw, she dropped 6-2, 6-1 decision to Marquette's Kelly Barry and then withdrew from the rest of the singles draw. She will continue to play doubles in the next two days.
"Catrine just wasn't ready to go today," Etzkin said. "She gave it all she had, but she just doesn't have the mobility because of her knee to play at the top of the lineup like she is. She'll be fine after a little rest, but I know she really wants to play."
CSU went 6-7 in singles play during the two rounds played.
For the second straight weekend, the Vikings opened play with a strong doubles showing, with the three Viking doubles squads sweeping their matches.
Playing in the A Doubles Draw, the team of Bjerrehus and Sherwood came away with an 8-6 decision over Akron's Angelika Jogasuria and Prang Pantusart, 8-6.
"That was a big win for us," Etzkin said. "They went down 3-0 in the match but were able to regroup, battle back and claim the win. That is a great sign."
CSU claimed both of its matches in the B Doubles Draw. The team of Power and Janek out-lasted Detroit's Cornwell and Strakhova, 8-6 while the Viking duo of Bush and Bjelan routed Kowalski and Navarro from California (PA), 8-2.
The only doubles loss came when Mengdi Liu, who was teamed with Toledo's Rocio Benavent, dropped an 8-5 decision to Bowling Green's Johnson and Pickrell.
The second day of play begins at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday (Sept. 25) with two rounds of doubles and the semi-final singles rounds. The finals will be played on Sunday (Sept. 26).
2010 Michigan State Invitational
First Day Results
Draw A Singles:
Kelly Barry (Marquette) def. Catrine Bjerrehus (CSU), 6-2, 6-1
(Bjerrehus withdraws from draw with knee injury)
Draw B Singles:
Emily Reuland (Bowling Green) def. Alex Power (CSU), 6-4, 6-2
Alex Power (CSU) def. Kaysara Mandry (Louisville), 3-6, 6-1, 10-8
Draw C Singles:
Nicole Janek (CSU) def. Alexandra Cristello (Toledo), 4-6, 6-4, 6-3
Amelia Harris (Louisville) def. Nicole Janek (CSU), 7-5, 7-5
Kara Sherwood (CSU) def. Rebecca Shine (Louisville), 7-5, 6-0
Niki Chiricosta (Bowling Green) def. Kara Sherwood (CSU), 6-0, 6-1
Draw D Singles:
Christine Coffman (Toledo) def. Alexandra Bush (CSU), 7-5, 6-4
Alexandra Bush (CSU) def. Kristel Sanders (Ball State), 6-2, 6-1
Draw E Singles:
Mengdi Liu (CSU) def. Stefanie Villajuan (Louisville), 6-1, 6-4
Mengdi Liu (CSU) def. Alexandra Forsyth (IPFW), 6-3, 6-3
Katie Grubb (Bowling Green) def. Sanda Bjelan (CSU), 7-5, 6-3
Yika Kobayashi (IPFW) def. Sanda Bjelan (CSU)
(Liu advances to semi-finals)
Draw A Doubles:
Bjerrehus/Sherwood (CSU) def. A. Jogasuria/Pantusart (Akron), 8-6
Draw B Doubles:
Power/Janek (CSU) def. Cornwell/Strakhova (Detroit), 8-6
Bush/Bjelan (CSU) def. Kowalski/Navarro (Cal. Univ. of PA), 8-2
Draw C Doubles:
Johnson/Pickrell (Bowling Green) def. Liu (CSU)/Benavent (Toledo), 8-5
