Gavrilovska's Run in NCAA Championship Comes to an End
May 22, 2015 | Women's Tennis
WACO, Texas –Saska Gavrilovska's run in the NCAA Singles Championship came to an end today as the Texas A&M sophomore fell to 11th-ranked Stephanie Wagner of Miami, 6-1, 4-6, 6-4, in the round of 16 at the Hurd Tennis Center.
Gavrilovska, A&M's first-ever underclassman to reach the round of 16, as well the program's first underclassman to achieve All-America distinction, got off to a slow start in the match as Wagner broke her serve in the opening game and cruised to a 6-1 first-set victory.
After each player had her first service game of the second set broken, the frame remained on serve until Gavrilovska broke to go up 4-3. The following game was a back-and-forth affair with six deuces and the set tied 40-all when a light rain caused play to be temporarily suspended.
When play resumed, Gavrilovska hit out and then hit a ball that barely missed clearing the net and instead landed back on her side of the court to end the game and even the set, 4-4.
One point was played in the ensuing game before the rain returned, and players were sent to the locker room. Once they returned, Gavrilovska broke Wagner and took her first lead, 5-4. Gavrilovska would then hold serve, pulling off a 6-4 second-set win just as another light rain began to fall, forcing the courts to be cleared for another short delay.
The final set was closely contested before Wagner, a 9-16 seed in the 64-player field, went up a break at 4-2. Gavrilovska broke back, scoring four consecutive points to put the set back on serve, 4-3. The players continued to exchange breaks, and Wagner went on to win the set, 6-4, to win the match and advance to the quarterfinals.
The 54th-ranked Gavrilovska, who gave A&M its fifth-ever appearance in the singles round of 16 and was attempting to become only the third player in A&M history to reach the quarterfinals, finishes the season 23-13.
Visit 12thMan.com for more information on Texas A&M women's tennis. Aggie fans also can keep up to date with the A&M women's tennis team on Twitter by following @AggieWTEN or on Facebook at Facebook.com/AggieWomensTennis.
Quotes:
Texas A&M head coach Howard Joffe
On Saska Gavrilovska's match today…
"There was very little in the difference between winning and losing. Saska got off to a slow start. The part of the match that is really disappointing for me is a double-edged thing. Saska was very, very, very mature today, and she just sort of stuck to her guns. At the end of the match, the dynamics of the tennis had changed. In the first set, the kid from Miami was beating up on Saska. By the third set, Saska was getting her licks in on the other girl, but unfortunately a couple of loose points at the 4-3 game and again at the 5-4 game was enough for the other kid to get over the winning line. So in that respect, it was really disappointing. But what really is encouraging is it was one of the more mature performances I've seen from Saska, because I know she was very nervous. She didn't play her best, but the head was as good as I've ever seen. In that respect I was very pleased, but obviously it was a match she totally could have won, and I know it will hurt for her."
On how playing this tournament helps her in the future
"She is the first Aggie underclassman to be an All-American, so this experience will be really good. If you look back at January and February and how Saska's mind and tennis were at that time, no one would have bet any money that she'd even get to the tournament, let alone be in the round of 16. So it speaks to her character and her sticking in there. But there is no question as it relates to moving forward next year and the year after, she is starting to get the experience that is going to help her certainly not only in the individual tournament, but with the team as well."
Texas A&M Sophomore Saska Gavrilovska
On today's match…
"It was a very rough start. I was very, very nervous. I knew she was a tough player and I would have to go all in. I think negative thoughts got into my head and I got down 6-1 really quick. In the second set, I wasn't playing my best, nerves and everything, and it was very tough to get back into the match. I guess I was just trying my best to loosen up and to hit whatever ball I can, and eventually the set came at 4-4 and I got all negative thoughts out of my mind and started playing my best. It was good. I won the second set, but in the third, she was a really tough player and very good player, and we played tough in the third set. Unfortunately I wasn't that lucky today.
"This is very disappointing because I know I have been playing very well and today wasn't my best. Even though she is a really tough player and a really good player, I really thought my game could overcome that and I could come back and win, but I did get a good experience out of this, and hopefully next year I'll do better."
2015 NCAA Individual Championship results – Texas A&M
Singles
#54 Saska Gavrilovska (Texas A&M) def. #97 Taylor Ng (Dartmouth) 6-4, 6-2
#17 Viktoriya Lushkova (Oklahoma State) def. #26 Rachel Pierson (Texas A&M) 6-2, 4-6, 7-5
#54 Saska Gavrilovska (Texas A&M) def. #8 Sydney Campbell (Vanderbilt) 6-4, 6-3
#11 Stephanie Wagner (Miami) def. #54 Saska Gavrilovska (Texas A&M) 6-1, 4-6, 6-4
Doubles
#26 Desirae Krawczyk/Stephanie Vlad (Arizona State) def. #13 Eva Paalma/Rachel Pierson (Texas A&M) 6-2, 6-3
Texas A&M all-time NCAA Individual Championship results:
2015 (Baylor University, Waco, Texas)
Round of 64
Saska Gavrilovska, Texas A&M def. Taylor Ng, Dartmouth, 6-4, 6-2
Viktoriya Lushkova, Oklahoma State, def. Rachel Pierson, Texas A&M, 6-2, 4-6, 7-5
Round of 32
Saska Gavrilovska, Texas A&M def. Sydney Campbell (8), Vanderbilt, 6-4, 6-3
Desirae Krawczyk/Stephanie Vlad, Arizona State def. Rachel Pierson/Eva Paalma, Texas A&M, 6-2, 6-3
Round of 16
Stephanie Wagner (9-16), Miami def. Saska Gavrilovska, Texas A&M, 6-1, 4-6, 6-4
2014 (University of Georgia, Athens, Ga.)
Round of 64
Anett Schutting (9-16), California, def. Saska Gavrilovska, Texas A&M, 6-4, 6-1
Zsofi Susanyi, California, def. Cristina Stancu (9-16), Texas A&M, 6-0, 6-4
Round of 32
Masa Grgan/Abigail Tere-Apisah, Georgia State def. Stefania Hristov/Cristina Stancu, Texas A&M, 6-3, 7-6 (4)
2013 (University of Illinois, Urbana, Ill.)
Round of 64
Cristina Sanchez-Quintanar (4), Texas A&M def. Courtney Collins, Memphis, 6-1, 6-3
Sabrina Santamaria (2) def. Nazari Urbina, Texas A&M, 6-3, 6-2
Round of 32
Cristina Sanchez-Quintanar (4), Texas A&M def. Maho Kowase, Georgia, 6-2, 6-1
Hermon Brhane/Whitney Ritchie (5-8), Oklahoma def. Stefania Hristov/Cristina Stancu, Texas A&M ... 5-7, 6-2, 6-4
Round of 16
Nicole Gibbs (9-16), Stanford def. Cristina Sanchez-Quintanar (4), Texas A&M, 6-4, 6-4
2012 (University of Georgia, Athens, Ga.)
Round of 64
Cristina Sanchez-Quintanar (7), Texas A&M def. Alexa Guarachi, Alabama, 6-4, 5-7, 7-6 (3)
Cristina Stancu, Maryland def. Nazari Urbina, Texas A&M, 7-6 (3), 6-0
Round of 32
Cristina Sanchez-Quintanar (7), Texas A&M def. Joelle Kissell, North Carolina State, 6-2, 6-0
Lorraine Guillermo/Khunpak Issara, Pepperdine def. Cristina Sanchez-Quintanar/Wen Sun, Texas A&M ... 6-4, 6-2
Round of 16
Cristina Sanchez-Quintanar (7), Texas A&M def. Petra Niedermayerova, Kansas State, 6-4, 6-3
Quarterfinals
Allie Will (1), Florida def. Cristina Sanchez-Quintanar (7), Texas A&M, 6-3, 6-3
2011 (Stanford University, Stanford, Calif.)
Round of 64
Cristina Sanchez-Quintanar, Maryland def. Nazari Urbina, Texas A&M ... 6-3, 6-4
2010 (University of Georgia, Athens, Ga.)
Round of 64
Caitlin Whoriskey (9-16), Tennessee def. Nazari Urbina, Texas A&M ... 2-6, 6-2, 6-3
Alison Ramos, USC def. Elzé Potgieter, Texas A&M ... 3-6, 6-3, 6-2
2007 (University of Georgia, Athens, Ga.)
Round of 64
Susie Babos (5), California def. Anna Lubinsky, Texas A&M ... 7-5, 6-7 (6), 6-2
Round of 32
Caitlin Collins/Sanaz Marand, North Carolina def. Tiffany Clifford/Sarah Foster, Texas A&M ... 6-2, 6-2
2006 (Stanford University, Palo Alto, Calif.)
Round of 64
Anna Lubinsky, Texas A&M def. Gira Schofield, South Carolina ... 5-7, 6-4, 6-4
Round of 32
Amber Liu (8), Stanford def. Anna Lubinsky, Texas A&M ... 6-1, 6-2
Tiffany Clifford/Sarah Foster, Texas A&M def. Megan Moulton/Katrina Zoricic, William & Mary ... 2-6, 7-6 (5), 6-2)
Round of 16
Sara Anundsen/Jenna Long (5-8), North Carolina def. Tiffany Clifford/Sarah Foster, Texas A&M ... 6-2, 7-6 (4)
2005 (University of Georgia, Athens, Ga.)
Round of 64
Helga Vieira, Texas A&M def. Nicole Leimbach (9-16), Southern California … 7-5, 6-2
Round of 32
Helga Vieira, Texas A&M def. Zsuzsanna Fodor, Mississippi State … 5-7, 6-4, 6-2
Round of 16
Riza Zalameda, UCLA def. Helga Vieira, Texas A&M … 6-1, 7-5
2004 (University of Georgia, Athens, Ga.)
Round of 64
Dianne Hollands (9-16), Arizona def. Jessica Roland, Texas A&M … 6-0, 6-2
Round of 32
Jessica Roland/Helga Vieira, Texas A&M def. Sofia Holden/Barbora Zahnova, BYU … 6-2, 6-4
Round of 16
Maja Kovacek/Sandy Lukowski, New Mexico def. Jessica Roland/Helga Vieira, Texas A&M … 6-1, 6-4
2003 (University of Florida, Gainesville, Fla.)
Round of 64
Jessica Roland, Texas A&M def. Alicia Pillay, Tulsa … 2-6, 6-4, 6-0
Round of 32
Amber Liu (5), Stanford def. Jessica Roland, Texas A&M … 6-3, 6-3
Ziva Grasic/Kendra Strohm, Texas def. Jessica Roland/Roberta Spencer, Texas A&M … 6-4, 6-4
2002 (Stanford University, Palo Alto, Calif.)
Round of 32
Simone Jardim/Kim Niggemeyer, Fresno State def. Ashley Hedberg/Jessica Roland, Texas A&M … 7-5, 7-6 (6)
1997 (Stanford University, Palo Alto, Calif.)
Round of 32
Caroline Hora/Victoria Hunt, Miami (Fla.) def. Lisa Dingwall/Nancy Dingwall, Texas A&M … 6-7 (5), 6-2, 6-2
1996 (Florida State University, Tallahassee, Fla.)
Round of 32
Bonnie Bleeker/Divya Merchant, Florida def. Wilson Pate/Nancy Dingwall, Texas A&M … 6-4, 7-5
1994 (University of Georgia, Athens, Ga.)
Round of 32
Rebecca Jensen/Nora Koves (3), Kansas def. Wilson Pate/Nancy Dingwall, Texas A&M … 7-5, 6-1
1993 (University of Florida, Gainesville, Fla.)
Round of 64
Katrin Guenther, William & Mary def. Janine Burton-Durham, Texas A&M … 6-2, 6-2
1990 (University of Florida, Gainesville, Fla.)
Round of 64
Lynn Staley, Texas A&M def. Camilla Ohrman, Pepperdine … 6-3, 6-2
Round of 32
Susan Gilchrist (9-16), Texas def. Lynn Staley, Texas A&M … 6-1, 6-2
1989 (University of Florida, Gainesville, Fla.)
Round of 32
Sharon Fletcher/Jean-Marie Lozano (5-8), California def. Robin Mawdsley/Lisa Keller, Texas A&M … 6-1, 6-1
1988 (UCLA, Los Angeles, Calif.)
Round of 32
Allyson Cooper/Stella Sampras (3), UCLA def. Gaye Lynne Gensler/Lisa Keller, Texas A&M … 4-6, 6-3, 6-4
1987 (UCLA, Los Angeles, Calif.)
Round of 64
Kim Labuschagne (9-16), Texas A&M def. Leslie Hakala, BYU … 6-0, 6-4
Round of 32
Kim Labuschagne (9-16), Texas A&M def. Mary Dineen, Rollins … 6-3, 4-6, 6-2
Round of 16
Kim Labuschagne (9-16), Texas A&M def. Ranata Baranski, Oklahoma State … 7-5, 6-4
Quarterfinals
Jennifer Santrock (9-16), SMU def. Kim Labuschagne (9-16), Texas A&M … 7-5, 6-2
1986 (University of Texas, Austin, Texas)
Round of 32
Jill Hetherington/Jan Martin (5-8), Florida def. Vanne Akagi/Gaye Lynne Gensler, Texas A&M … 6-1, 7-5
Jennifer Fuchs/Jane Thomas, UCLA def. Kim Labuschagne/Karen Marshall, Texas A&M … 6-3, 6-4
Players Mentioned
