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No. 20 Sun Devils Down Wildcats, End Season On Six-Match Winning Streak

by thesundevils.com
Apr 16, 2022

TEMPE, Ariz. – The No. 20 Sun Devils routed in-state rival Arizona, 4-1, in the finale on Saturday at the Whiteman Tennis Center to close out the regular season with six straight wins.

Sedona Gallagher's 6-3, 6-4, win on Court 3 over the Wildcats' Lexi Ryngler clinched the Sun Devils' 14th win of the 2021-22 campaign. It's the 10th time in the last 11 seasons that ASU has tallied a 14-plus win season.

The Sun Devils rounded out the year with an 11-1 mark at home, the most wins at Whiteman in a season since 2016.

ASU had to fight for the doubles point and, in front of a packed home crowd, managed to down two Arizona tandems on Courts 1 & 2.

Sedona Gallagher and Giulia Morlet toppled Arizona's Kayla Wilkin and Khim Iglupas on Court 2, 6-2. Moments after the Wildcats took Court 3, No. 18 Patricija Spaka and Domenika Turkovic emerged in a thriller, winning 7-6 (9-7) over Salma Ziouti and Kirsten Prelle.

The Sun Devils carried over their doubles momentum into singles play, where four first sets broke the Maroon & Gold's way. Spaka and Marianna Argyrokastriti were the first two off, both notching wins to pull ASU ahead, 3-0.

It paved the way for Sedona Gallagher, whose straight-sets defeat of Ryngler sent the Wildcats home.

COACH'S CORNER
"Really happy for the team to end the regular season with a win over our rival," head coach Sheila McInerney said. "We knew it would be a battle and it was. I thought the doubles point was key as we saved five match points at [Court] #1 to secure the win. 

"We used that momentum to get off to a good start in the singles, winning four first sets and did a great job closing those matches. Proud of the girls for finishing the season with six straight wins and looking forward to the postseason."    

SINGLES

1. Morlet,Giulia (ASU) vs. Salma Ziouti (ARIZ) 6-1, 6-5, unfinished
2. Turkovic,Domenika (ASU) vs. Kayla Wilkins (ARIZ) 0-6, 6-4, 1-1, unfinished
3. Sedona Gallagher (ASU) def. Lexi Ryngler (ARIZ) 6-3, 6-4
4. Midori Castillo-Meza (ARIZ) def. Jankowski,Cali (ASU) 6-4, 6-4
5. Patricija Spaka (ASU) def. Kirsten Prelle (ARIZ) 6-2, 6-2
6. Argyrokastriti,M (ASU) def. Khim Iglupas (ARIZ) 6-3, 6-3

DOUBLES

1. Patricija Spaka/Turkovic,Domenika (ASU) def. Salma Ziouti/Kirsten Prelle (ARIZ) 7-6
2. Morlet,Giulia/Sedona Gallagher (ASU) def. Kayla Wilkins/Khim Iglupas (ARIZ) 6-2
3. Belen Nevenhoven/Midori Castillo-Meza (ARIZ) def. Jankowski,Cali/Argyrokastriti,M (ASU) 7-6 

UP NEXT
The Sun Devils have gotten hot when it's mattered most, winners of their last six contests. They'll look to carry the momentum over to the Pac-12 Championships from April 20-23 in Ojai, California.

To stay up to date with the Sun Devils' postseason run, follow the team's Twitter account, @sundevilwtennis.

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