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sports
Revenge
sweet for Beach
By Sarah Duffy
On-line Forty-Niner
The Long Beach
State women's tennis team won its first Big West Conference
Championship by beating UC Irvine, 4-2, in Ojai Sunday.
As a result of the victory, the 49ers will make their first
ever NCAA championship appearance in less than two weeks.
"I'm just delighted," said Laura Thomas after winning
her match, 6-3, 6-4, against Anna Bentzer -- the victory that
clinched the Big West title for the 49ers.
LBSU coach Jenny Hilt raised her arms in celebration as the
team ran onto the courts after the victory.
"We fought through being down in doubles yesterday [against
Cal State Northridge] and down again today," Hilt said.
"They just kept their heads on and just kept fighting."
Thomas, who holds 20-2 singles record in the No. 4 spot this
season, called her meeting with Bentzer -- and the Anteaters
-- a revenge match. The Anteaters defeated the 49ers, 5-2,
at Long Beach just two weeks ago, earning UCI the top seed
in the Big West Championships, and Bentzer beat Thomas in
straight sets.
"It's harder for someone to beat another person twice,"
Thomas said.
After the doubles point was lost, Anastasia Dvornikova and
Lindsey Marvel looked determined, heading back on the courts
for their singles matches at the No. 1 and No. 2 singles positions.
Dvornikova, who is ranked No. 122 nationally, avenged a loss
as well, beating Jonni Seymour, 6-3, 6-4 at the No. 1 singles
spot. Seymour is ranked No 81 and beat Dvornikova in the team's
earlier meeting.
"I just tried to be patient, because I knew that was
the way to win." Dvornikova said. "I tried to play
deeper and put more spin on the ball rather than attacking."
Marvel found her form and was leading in the third set when
her teammates pulled out the victory.
Alena Dvornikova, playing at the No. 3 position in singles
and the No. 1 doubles with sister Anastasia, won her match
early, 6-1, 7-5, in singles, drawing huge cheers for the 49ers.
"I was playing my game, but in the second set, she started
putting more balls in the court," Alena Dvornikova said.
"I just started playing better and I finished it out."
Cheryl Kindred, playing in the No. 5 spot, Anastasia Dvornikova
and Thomas then followed suit with singles' victories.
The 2002 Big West Most Valuable Player award went to Kindred,
who smashed an overhead just inside the baseline to close
out her match, 7-5, 6-1, against Hui Leow.
The victory means a lot to Kindred, a senior who remembers
last year's Big West championship final loss to Boise State.
"That's what we've been working for," Kindred said.
"That's been our goal since last year. Last year left
a bad taste in my mouth, and I'm glad that I was able to get
rid of that."
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Sarah
Duffy/On-line Forty-Niner
Members of the victorious LBSU women's tennis
team pose following a win Saturday.
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