Criss Interview

The Colorado College women assured themselves a chance of placing as high as fifth at the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference women's tennis championships at the Burns Park Tennis Center in North Little Rock, Ark.
 
No. 1 singles player Deanna Thirkell defeated Rhodes College's Carolina Sanchez  6-4, 7-5 to clinch the 5-4 dual meet win Saturday morning and give the Tigers one of their best finishes in recent memory.
 
The victory was especially sweet for Thirkell, who lost twice to Sanchez two years ago and saw the Lynx defeat the Tigers at last season's SCAC championships. Even though she was focused on defeating Sanchez as the second set neared its end, the team win was very much on her mind.
 
“This is a great victory,” Thirkell said. “Even though I want the individual win, we can only advance as a team. I really wanted that (fifth-place) match tomorrow.”
 
With the win, No. 7 seed CC will play fifth-seeded Birmingham Southern for fifth place at 7 a.m. Mountain on Sunday. BSC downed Oglethorpe to advance.

“Today was a good win for the ladies,” CC head coach Todd Doebler said. “The hard work they have put in this season has paid off. We are looking forward to (Sunday) playing against a good team like Birmingham Southern.”
 
The senior Thirkell's singles win and a 9-7 victory at No. 1 doubles while paired with freshman Mary Edman against Sanchez and Alex Phipps gave CC two valuable points, but more importantly considerable momentum headed into the singles competition.
 
“It was a huge win,” said sophomore Caila Criss, who won at No. 3 singles and No.2 doubles with Katie Patterson, and was one of the Tigers congratulating Thirkell and Edman after their doubles victory.  “It is always good to take a 2-1 lead into singles.”
 
 Results
 
Losers bracket quarterfinals
Singles Competition
 
1. CC – Deanna Thirkell def. Carolina Sanchez 6-4, 7-5
2. RC – Alex Phipps def. Katie Patterson 2-6, 7-6 (1), 6-4
3. CC – Caila Cross def. Elyse Smith 6-0, 6-2
4. RC – Krystal Skrmetta def. Maddy Bush 6-1, 6-1
5. RC – Courtney Hornsby def. Mary Edman 6-4, 6-3
6. CC – Maggie Harwood def. Hillary Connell 6-2, 6-2
 
Doubles Competition
1. CC – Deanna Thirkell/Mary Edman def. Carolina Sanchez/Alex Phipps 9-7
2. CC – Katie Patterson/Caila Criss def. Cortney Hornsby/Elyse Smith 8-5
3. RC – Maggie Donoghue/Kristal Skrmetta def. Anna Sweeney/Maddy Bush 8-3