By
Lindsey Manroel
Arizona Daily Wildcat
Gough loses in quarterfinals to ASU
The UA women's tennis team was a tough force to reckon with, but not tough enough to advance to the finals at the Arizona State/Thunderbirds Invitational this past weekend.
Senior Michelle Gough, junior Laresa Marino and freshman Perrine Pernin represented UA women's tennis in Tempe - home of in-state rival Arizona State.
Arizona was joined by stiff competition that included California, UC Irvine, Pepperdine, University of San Diego, Southern California, Texas and Arizona State
In the first round action of Friday's single match, No. 64 Gough defeated California's Nicole Havlicek, 6-2, 6-3 and UC Irvine's Jonni Seymour, 6-3, 6-0 to advance to the tournament's quarterfinals.
Gough, who had to face rival Megan Yeats of ASU in the quarterfinals, was defeated, 6-0, 6-1.
"I think I did really well and was happy with the way I played," Gough said. "It would have been nice to beat ASU because it's always sweet to beat our arch-rival, but I just wanted to win."
After being defeated by California's Jieun Jacobs, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1, in the first round, Marino was able to defeat Pauline Trinchant from Texas, 6-2, 6-3 in the second-round singles consolation bracket to advance to Saturday's singles consolation quarterfinals. Marino defeated Texas' Ziva Grasic before losing to ASU's Celena McCoury.
Pernin, the only UA freshman to compete among this past weekend's group of players, was able to defeat UC-Irvine's Darian Chappell, 6-0, 6-3 in the singles consolation quarterfinals.
After advancing to the semifinals, Pernin was eliminated from the invitational by USD's Siri Fomsgaard, 3-6, 7-6(2), 6-3.
Pernin was critical of her performance in the tournament.
"I have to improve my game," Pernin said. "I was not satisfied at all with my game. I have to be more patient with the point, and I know what I have to do with my forehand."
The doubles team of Gough and Marino - competing for the first time as partners - was able to defeat California but was later eliminated in the quarterfinals, 8-4 by Texas.
"I thought we did really well playing with each other for the first time," Gough said. "Laresa plays well at the baseline and compliments me quite well."
