Tennis teams finish season with losses

The Wildcats didn't come through against the Sun Devils, winning just one of the matches in the No. 1 spot when senior Adnan Novo knocked off Jeff Williams, 6-3, 6-4.

"It was a huge win for both Adnan and the team," UA head coach Bill Wright said. "I mean, he just whooped him. I seriously think he has a shot at the NCAAs."

Wright was optimistic about the team's play Saturday despite the loss.

"We hate to lose to ASU", he said, "but the score wasn't indicative of the play. We started

every match off well."

Despite the team's record (7-12 overall, 2-10 Pacific 10 Conference), Wright is looking forward to the Wildcats' chances at the Pac-10 Tournament, which starts Thursday in Ojai, Calif.

"We think we can definitely be competitive next week," Wright said. "The Pac-10 is a great conference, but we'll be OK."

The only Wildcats to take ASU into three sets were junior Michel Stopa and freshman Caleb Marquardt, who each eventually lost their respective singles matches to Ed Carter 2-6, 6-1, 6-1 and to David Klinger 7-6, 3-6, 6-3, respectively.

Novo is the only player on the team going into Pac-10s ranked by the Intercollegiate Tennis

Association at No. 100. Novo, originally from Bosnia and a transfer from Pima Community College, is now 10-8 on the season after being the preseason No. 5 player on the team.

"He's just phenomenal now," Wright said. "He's really improved."

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The Arizona women's tennis team lost to archrival Arizona State by a score of 7-2 in its regular season finale.

The Wildcats (7-13 overall, 3-5 Pac-10) were the latest victim of ASU's killer freshman, Allison Bradshaw. Bradshaw, currently ranked No. 30 in the nation in singles, outlasted fellow freshman Lindsey Blau 4-6, 6-1, 6-4.

Laresa Marino remains the only Wildcat undefeated in Pac-10 play. A doubles win by Marino and her partner, freshman Carly Stringer, defeated Faye DeVera and Ana Pereyra of ASU by the score of 8-6.

The Wildcats head to Ojai with the men's team Thursday for the Pac-10 Championships. The Sun Devils (12-7 overall, 4-4 Pac-10) are currently ranked No. 11 in the nation, while the Wildcats are currently holding on to their No. 56 spot in the ITA rankings.

Ryan Finley can be reached at Ryan.Finley@wildcat.arizona.edu.