USC's loss to Fresno State under protest

(CSTV U-WIRE) LOS ANGELES -- The No. 8 USC women's tennis team filed a protest to the Intercollegiate Tennis Association for its match against No. 13 Fresno State after learning that the Bulldogs might have unfairly manipulated their lineup by placing one of their better players in too low a position for the singles segment.

The Women of Troy suffered a deflating 3-4 loss Wednesday to the No. 13-ranked Fresno State Bulldogs. USC had been undefeated at home and on a seven-match winning streak heading into the contest.

The controversy stems from the order of Fresno State's lineup. Anastasia Petukhova was placed in the fourth position, below Tinesta Rowe, who was placed in the third spot. But Petukhova was ranked No. 70 in the country, while Rowe was unranked.

"The coach must submit the doubles and singles lineup, with their top six singles players who are available to play listed in order of ability" states ITA rule II.K.5.

USC coach Richard Gallien was unavailable for comment after the protest was filed.

Gallien was dissatisfied with the result immediately after the match.

"Honestly, there wasn't anything good that came out of that match," he said. "It was a very painful, bitter loss. I wish we had a match tomorrow to get over it quickly, but we don't."

The day started off with disappointment in doubles for the Women of Troy. The No. 59-ranked duo of USC sophomore Amanda Fink and senior Judy DeVera was victorious over Fresno State's No. 50 Renata Kucerkova/Anastasis Petukhova, winning, 8-4.

The Bulldogs, however, countered with their own win, as Danon Beatty/Vanessa Heroux beat USC freshman Sarah Fansler and senior Anca Anastasiu, 8-4. That meant the doubles point would be decided by the final third contest.

USC junior Lindsey Nelson and senior Julie Smekodub were up, 7-6, and on the verge of winning, but Fresno State's Melanie Gloria and Tinesta Rowe pushed it to an 8-8 tiebreak. Despite a valiant effort from Nelson and Smekodub, the Bulldogs emerged with the crucial doubles point after winning the tiebreak, 11-9.

"That doubles point was huge," said Anastasiu. "Fansler and I didn't play well, and it was really disappointing, especially given the final match score."

The singles portion of the match was up and down, with USC dominating certain matchups, and Fresno State controlling the others. USC senior Dianne Matias, ranked No. 92 nationally, easily dispatched Heroux, 6-2, 6-0. But the Bulldogs bit back quickly, as Fresno State's No. 70 Petukhova ousted Anastasiu, 6-1, 6-2. USC responded with two wins: No. 117 Fink pummeled Rowe, 6-0, 6-0, while Smekodub beat Beatty, 6-2, 6-0.

That left the score at 3-2, with USC needing only one more singles win to capture team victory. USC, however, never dealt the final blow it needed.

In the top position match, Lindsey Nelson, ranked No. 8 nationally, succumbed to third ranked Gloria, 6-2, 6-2.

In the deciding sixth match, USC's No. 15 Fansler had fallen behind No. 71 Kucerkova with a first set of 1-6, but recovered strongly and won the second frame 6-2. With both teams cheering on their players, the third set was closely contested, but Fansler lost, 3-6, ending USC's home winning streak.

(C) 2007 Daily Trojan via U-WIRE