DePaul University Athletics
DePaul University
Auburn
Singles Push DePaul Past Auburn
2/26/2011 12:00:00 AM | WOMEN'S TENNIS
Feb. 26, 2011
MONTGOMERY, Ala. -- The No. 48 DePaul women's tennis team has a flair for the dramatics -- as the Blue Demons rebounded from a 3-0 deficit and topped No. 64 Auburn on Saturday at the Blue Gray National Tennis Classic played at the Lagoon Park Tennis Center.
"A great college tennis match," Blue Demon head coach Mark Ardizzone said following his team's epic victory.
"Coming back from a 3-0 deficit is quite an accomplishment. I am really proud of the girls - they showed a lot fight and determination," Aridizzone added.
After Auburn won the doubles point, and singles matches on the third and fourth courts and with the dual was heading into its third hour, DePaul dug deep for its second ranked win of the season.
Christiana Raymond gave the Blue Demons their first point with her 19th singles win of the season. Raymond's straight-set win over Plamena Kurteva set the stage for DePaul's dramatic comeback.
Senior standout Katarina Milinkovic finished off Paulina Schipper in the top postion, 6-1, 4-6, 6-2 to swing the match's momentum in the Blue Demons favor.
Cali Gustafson tied the match at three with a win on the sixth court before all attention turned to Gia McKnight and Caroline Thornton on the second court.
McKnight took the first set 6-3, while Thornton edged the Blue Demon junior in the second set 7-6. With both teams on the sidelines for the final points of the third set, McKnight battled and fought off-fatigue to take the final set, 7-5.
"Gia, Katarina and Cali really dug deep to pull out three setters after four hours of play," Ardizzone said of his upperclassman.
The Blue Demons advance and play No. 36 Alabama on Sunday at 4:30 p.m. Alabama is the eighth ranked team DePaul has faced this season.
No. 48 DePaul 4, No. 64 Auburn 3
Doubles
No. 1. Olivia Bennett/Jacqueline Kasler (AU) def. No. 55 Katarina Milinkovic/Gia McKnight (DePaul) 9-8
No. 2. Paulina Schippers/Plamena Kurteva (AU) vs. Selma Salkovic/Kelsey Lawson (DePaul) 8-5
No. 3. Cali Gustafson/ChristianaRaymond (DePaul) def. Caroline Thornton/Taylor Schreimann (AU) 9-8
Order of Finish: 2, 3, 1
Singles
No. 1. Katarina Milinkovic (DePaul) def. Paulina Schippers (AU) 6-1, 4-6, 6-2
No. 2. Gia McKnight (DePaul) def. Caroline Thornton (AU) 6-3, 6-7, 7-5
No. 3. Olivia Bennett (AU) def. Kelsey Lawson (DePaul) 6-4, 6-1
No. 4. Jacqueline Kasler (AU) def. Selma Salkovic (DePaul) 6-2, 6-2
No. 5. Christiana Raymond (DePaul) def. Plamena Kurteva (AU) 6-3, 6-2
No. 6 Cali Gustafson (DePaul) def. Taylor Schreimann (AU) 6-2, 2-6, 6-4
Order of Finish: 4, 3, 5, 1, 6, 2
