March 26, 2008
NORTHRIDGE, Calif. -
Seniors Canna Furuta and Kanykey Koichumanova were named the Big West Women's Tennis Players of the Week for their performances over the past two weeks. Furuta earned the honor for her play from Mar. 10-16, and Koichumanova received the award following her performances in action against Yale, Minnesota and Boise State last week.
Furuta keyed a pair of victories for the Matadors, a 6-1 victory over Texas State and a 5-2 win over Big West Conference rival, UC Santa Barbara. Against the Bobcats, Furuta teamed with junior Victoria Brymer to win their No. 1 doubles match, 8-2, over Andrea Giraldo and Ali Gulida. In singles play, Furuta easily handled Jennifer Nowland, 6-4 and 6-0.
On Mar. 15, the Matadors returned to Big West action with a match against the Gauchos, and Furuta won her No. 3 singles match over Charlotte Scatcliffe, 7-6 and 7-6, to give Northridge the victory. She also teamed with Brymer to win their No. 1 doubles match against Santa Barbara, 9-7, over Scatcliffe and Marta Simic.
For the season, Furuta is 6-6 in singles play and 6-5 in doubles action. In Big West matches, Furuta is 3-1 in singles matches and 3-0 in doubles play.
Koichumanova and teammate Brooke Doane continued their perfect run in doubles play, capturing all three of their No. 2 matches last week and improving to 12-0. Against Yale, Koichumanova and Doane defeated Steyi Petrelli and Janet Kim, 8-5. Three days later, the tandem defeated Alessandra Ferrazzi and Tijana Koprivica of Minnesota, 8-2. Finally, they defeated Boise State's Stacey Housely and Jana Mackova, 8-4, on Mar. 23.
In singles play, Koichumanova went 2-1 in her No. 2 matches last week, posting victories over Yale and Boise State. Against the Bulldogs, Koichumanova handed Jessica Rhee a 6-4, 6-1 defeat. She also stormed past Polina Kokoulina of Boise State, 6-4, 6-2, on Mar. 23. Her only loss of the week came against Lindsay Risebrough of Minnesota, falling in three sets, 6-7 (2), 6-1 and 3-6.
Overall, Koichumanova holds a 7-6 record in singles play and is 12-0 in doubles. She is 4-1 in Big West singles and 4-0 in league doubles matches.
As a team, Northridge currently stands at 9-4 for the season and 5-0 in Big West matches. The pair of seniors and the rest of the No. 68 Matador women's tennis team return to action on Mar. 28 when they host No. 59 Long Beach State in a Big West Conference match. First serve from the Matador Tennis Complex is set for 2 p.m.
