Sun Devils Sweep Lumberjacks in Season Opener

TEMPE, Ariz. – In the Sun Devil Women's Tennis season opener, the official start to head coach Sheila McInerney's 38th season in Tempe, they made quick work of the visiting Northern Arizona Lumberjacks, 7-0.

The Sun Devils (1-0) have now won the season opener for the sixth consecutive season.

HOW IT HAPPENED
The Sun Devils got off to an early lead in doubles play and never looked back. Sedona Gallagher and Giulia Morlet cruised to a 6-0 win over Elinor Beazley and Sofia Markova on court two. Marianna Argyrokastriti and Cali Jankowski fought hard on court three to earn a 6-4 win that clinched the doubles point for the Sun Devils.

Patricija Spaka and Domenika Turkovic, operating out of the No. 1 doubles duo, had their match abandoned at 5-3 after Argyrokastriti and Jankowski sealed their fate.

All six Sun Devils earned wins in singles play to bury the Lumberjacks.

McInerney spoke in the off-season about the uncertainty of who to slot into the No. 1 role in singles play, given the amount of depth and talent on her team. She rolled with Giulia Morlet, who mainly played out of the No. 4 position a year ago as a freshman.

Morlet was cool, calm and collected against Northern Arizona's No. 1 Gina Dittman. She erased an early 2-0 deficit in the first set to win 6-3, 6-1. A season ago, Dittman was the Big Sky Conference MVP and Freshman of the Year with a 14-1 record on court No. 1.

Sedona Gallagher and Patricija Spaka both earned the first wins of their Sun Devil careers, as Gallagher outlasted Mimi Bland 7-5, 7-6. Spaka was quick in her victory over Beazley, winning 6-0, 6-1.

Devils were ?? today ?? pic.twitter.com/GkTNdCwB8Z

— Arizona State Women's Tennis (@sundevilwtennis) January 17, 2022

COACH'S WORDS
"It was great because our first two matches were canceled and they were able to get out here today on a beautiful Monday afternoon with the sun out," McInerney said. "It was great. I think the kids were looking forward to it. They practice so long and you want to get out and start competing, particularly the team season, the dual meet season. 

"It was a lot of fun to play live tournaments in the fall, but this is what really counts for the team. I think they were all really, really excited. I thought they competed well like they always do. I thought it was really good for kids to sort of play the first match and get back into the team competition."

ARIZONA STATE 7, NORTHERN ARIZONA 0
SINGLES

1. Morlet,Giulia (ASU) def. DITTMANN, Gina (NAU) 6-3, 6-1 

2. Turkovic,Domenika (ASU) def. MILLARD, Ellie (NAU) 6-3, 6-1 

3. Sedona Gallagher (ASU) def. BLAND, Mimi (NAU) 7-5, 7-6 

4. Argyrokastriti,M (ASU) def. MARKOVA, Sofia (NAU) 7-6, 6-5 

5. Jankowski,Cali (ASU) def. NEYESTANI, Ava (NAU) 6-3, 6-2 

6. Patricija Spaka (ASU) def. BEAZLEY, Elinor (NAU) 6-0, 6-1 

DOUBLES

1. Patricija Spaka/Turkovic,Domenika (ASU) vs. DITTMANN, Gina/BLAND, Mimi (NAU) 5-3, unfinished 

2. Morlet,Giulia/Sedona Gallagher (ASU) def. BEAZLEY, Elinor/MARKOVA, Sofia (NAU) 6-0 

3. Argyrokastriti,M/Jankowski,Cali (ASU) def. NEYESTANI, Ava/DAVIS, Annabel (NAU) 6-4 

UP NEXT
The Sun Devils will return to the Whiteman Tennis Center on Saturday, January 22, for a doubleheader against Colorado State (9:30 a.m.) and New Mexico State (3 p.m.)