Feb. 6, 2011
SAN DIEGO, Calif.- Redemption was a sweet feeling for University of San Diego sophomore Laura Claus when she won the clinching singles match to lock down the Toreros' 4-3 upset of No. 15 Washington on Sunday afternoon from USD's Hahn Tennis Center. Claus was on the losing end of a clincher in USD's last match, a 4-3 loss to No. 43 Pepperdine last week, but took advantage of her second opportunity today in helping lead the 67th-ranked Toreros (2-2) to victory over the Huskies (5-1).
USD drew first blood in doubles when its No. 3 doubles tandem of Maja Sujica and Anna Depenau made quick work of Aleksandra Krsljanin and Adriana Pavlovic 8-1. The Huskies answered with a win of their own at the No. 1 spot, with Denise Dy and Venise Chan topping Juliette Coupez and Stephanie Hoffpauir 8-3.
Not only did Claus clinch the match overall for the Toreros, but she helped in clinching the doubles point, along with partner Josymar Escalona, when they defeated Andjela Nemcevic and Samantha Smith 8-4.
Moving into singles play the Toreros wasted no time in posting their second point of the day as freshman Depenau bested Krsljanin in straight sets 6-3, 6-0 at the No. 5 spot. Depenau improved to 6-7 with the win.
Washington got on the board next with a win at No. 1 as Chan, ranked 55th, defeated Hoffpauir 6-1, 6-4. The loss was Hoffpauir's first of the season, dropping her to 2-1.
Washington's other ranked player, No. 6 Dy, followed suit at No. 2 by taking down Josymar Escalona 6-4, 6-4.
USD took a point back when junior Marite Raygada outlasted Pavlovic 6-1, 7-6 (4), but the Huskies wouldn't go down quietly, evening the score at three with a marathon win by Nemcevic over Coupez 4-6, 6-4, 7-5.
With the match riding on the final singles showdown, Claus stepped up and delivered. Despite missing out on a chance to close out the win in the final set up 5-4, Claus dropped consecutive points to Smith, giving Smith the 6-5 advantage. With her back against the wall Claus broke Smith's serve to even it at six and then, like two exhausted prizefighters slugging it out, pounded away until pulling out the win with a final score of 6-3, 5-7, 7-6 (5). Claus improved to a team-best 6-4 singles mark on the year.
The win gives USD a bit of revenge after losing to Washington last season at home, 6-1.
USD looks to build on the win with another matchup with a Pac-10 opponent when they welcome Arizona to town next Saturday, Feb. 12th for a 10:00 a.m. match.
#67 San Diego 4, #15 Washington 3
February 6th, 2011
@ Hahn Tennis Center, USD
San Diego: 2-2
Washington: 5-1
Doubles
(1) Denise Dy/Venise Chan (UW) def. Juliette Coupez/Stephanie Hoffpauir (USD) 8-3
(2) Josymar Escalona/Laura Claus (USD) def. Andjela Nemcevic/Samantha Smith (UW) 8-4
(3) Maja Sujica/Anna Depenau (USD) def. Aleksandra Krsljanin/Adriana Pavlovic (UW) 8-1
Order of finish: 3, 1, 2*
USD wins doubles point.
Singles
(1) #55 Venise Chan (UW) def. Stephanie Hoffpauir (USD) 6-1, 6-4
(2) #6 Denise Dy (UW) def. Josymar Escalona (USD) 6-4, 6-4
(3) Laura Claus (USD) def. Samantha Smith (UW) 6-3, 5-7, 7-6 (5)
(4) Andjela Nemcevic (UW) def. Juliette Coupez (USD) 4-6, 6-4, 7-5
(5) Anna Depenau (USD) def. Aleksandra Krsljanin (UW) 6-3, 6-0
(6) Marite Raygada (USD) def. Adriana Pavlovic (UW) 6-1, 7-6 (4)
Order of finish: 5, 1, 2, 6, 4, 3*
