Air Force Academy

Sept. 24, 2010

The Air Force women's tennis had a successful start to the 2010-11 season Friday at the Washington State Cougar Classic in Pullman, Wash. The Falcons won eight of nine singles matches and seven of eight doubles matches.

Seniors Christen Monreal and Sarah Cassman and freshman Anastasia Hueffner each won two singles matches on Friday. Monreal, playing in the "Crimson" bracket, defeated Whitney Paluch of Montana, 6-3, 6-3, in the first round, then rallied to beat Victoria Lozano of Idaho, 1-6, 6-2, 6-4 in the second round. Also in the top bracket, junior Tahlia Smoke, the tournament's fourth-seed, defeated Charlotta Hjalmarsson of Montana State, 6-1, 3-6, 6-0, to advance to the round of 16.

Meanwhile, in the "Gray" singles bracket, Cassman and Hueffner each cruised through their two matches in straight sets to advance to the round of 16. In addition, junior Megumi Voight won her first match, 6-1, 6-0 over Marina Todd of Portland State after receiving a first-round bye.

In doubles action, Smoke and sophomore Melissa Cecil won two matches in the "Crimson" bracket before narrowly falling in the quarterfinals, 9-8(2), to Rika Mehndiratta and Prue Teitzel of Gonzaga. In the "Gray" bracket, Cassman and Voight won all three of their matches to advance to the semifinals, joining Monreal and Hueffner, who won two matches after getting a bye in the first round.

"I could not be more pleased with our effort today," said Air Force head coach Kim Gidley. "The singles matches came down to fitness and our strength and conditioning program really paid off."

Air Force Results
Cougar Classic
Friday, Sept. 24

Gray Singles
Round of 64 - Sarah Cassman (AF) def. Mikaela Peterson (Seattle), 6-1, 6-0
Round of 64 - Anastasia Hueffner (AF) def. Hanley Caras (Gonzaga), 6-1, 6-1
Round of 32 - Megumi Voight (AF) def. Marina Todd (PSU), 6-1, 6-0
Round of 32 - Sarah Cassman (AF) def. Alejandra Lozano (Idaho), 6-4, 6-3
Round of 32 - Anastasia Hueffner (AF) def. Justine Textor (Idaho), 6-1, 6-0

Crimson Doubles
Round of 32 - Smoke/Cecil (AF) def. Steffanie Mortera/Corinne Wurden (Seattle), 8-2
Round of 16 - Smoke/Cecil (AF) def. Morgan Basil/Elyse Edwards (BSU), 8-5
Quarterfinals - Rika Mehndiratta/Prue Teitzel (Gonzaga) def. Smoke/Cecil (AF), 9-8(2)

Gray Doubles
Round of 32 - Cassman/Voight (AF) def. Jennifer Coll/Paulina Lopez (Montana State), 8-4
Round of 16 - Cassman/Voight (AF) def. Ryann Warner/Alix Silha (EWU), 8-4
Round of 16 - Monreal/Hueffner (AF) def. Silvia Iremescu/Jana Siwa (Idaho), 8-5
Quarterfinals - Cassman/Voight (AF) def. Natalie Kirch/Justine Textor (Idaho), 8-6
Quarterfinals - Monreal/Hueffner (AF) def. Ashley Mackey/Lauren Gibson (Montana), 8-4