Sunday, February 25, 2007

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (February 25, 2007) - The ETSU women's tennis team picked up it's second and third straight victories on Sunday as they defeated conference foe North Florida, 7-0 and Tennessee Tech, 6-1. The Lady Bucs improve to 5-6 on the year and 1-0 in conference action, while the UNF Lady Ospreys fall to 8-1, 3-1. The Golden Eagles fall to 0-8 overall.

In their first match of the day against conference opponent North Florida, the Lady Bucs took the early 1-0 lead as they took the doubles point. Competing in No. 2 doubles Masha Ilina (Kyiv, Ukraine) and Olya Batsula (Minsk, Belarus) defeated Vanessa Sanchez and Danielle Desmarais, 8-4, while Yevgeniya Stupak (Kyiv, Ukraine) and Elena Volobueva (Barcelona, Spain) defeated Catalina Castillo and Natalia Sanchez, 8-6. In No. 3 doubles sophomores Tara Byrne (Johnson City) and Vita Moskaliova (Minsk, Belarus) fell in a hard fought match, 8-7 (7-3) to Ina Durcakova and Florencia Torres.

In singles action, Ilina breezed by Vanessa Sanchez, 6-2, 6-2 in the No. 1 position, while Stupak defeated Castillo, 6-2, 6-1 in the No. 2 slot. Competing in No. 3 singles, Batsula defeated Torres, 6-2, 6-4 while Byrne picked up a victory over Natalia Sanchez, 6-4, 6-0 in the No. 4 slot. Volobueva came from one set down in the fifth position to defeat Durcakova, 2-6, 6-2, 6-4 while Moskaliova cruised by Robin Rogers, 6-3, 6-2.

Less than two hours later, the Lady Bucs hit the outdoor courts for the first time since November to take on the Golden Eagles of Tennessee Tech. In doubles, Stupak and Ilina defeated Margot Carter and Marina Ruiz in the No. 1 position as Brittany Stewart (Brentwood) and Byrne defeated Amy Anstey, 8-3 in the second position. The Lady Bucs won the third match by default.

In singles action, Batsula defeated Carter, 6-4, 7-6 in the No. 1 slot, while Byrne breezed by Anstey, 6-1, 6-1 in the No. 2 slot. In the No. 3 position, Moskaliova fell to Marina Ruiz, 6-3, 0-6, 6-1 and freshman Whitney Trotter (Guadalajara, Mexico) defeated Evgenia Yartseva, 6-2, 6-2. The final two points in the No. 5 and No. 6 positions were conceded to the Lady Bucs due to Tennessee Tech's incomplete lineup.

"Overall I thought we played very good today. North Florida had been undefeated coming into this match both overall and in conference play," said head coach Steve Brooks. "They fought very hard and played well and I'm just pleased at their performance today. I think all of our tough matches at the beginning of the season have started to pay off."

The Lady Bucs will hit the road again as they travel to No. 31 Florida International on March 7. The match is slated to begin at 2 p.m. For all Lady Bucs tennis action visit www.etsubucs.com.

ETSU 7, UNF 0

Singles

No. 1- Masha Ilina (ETSU) def. Vanessa Sanchez (UNF) 6-2, 6-2

No. 2- Yevgeniya Stupak (ETSU) def. Catalina Castillo (UNF) 6-2, 6-1

No. 3- Olya Batsula (ETSU) def. Florencia Torres (UNF) 6-2, 6-4

No. 4- Tara Byrne (ETSU) def. Natalia Sanchez (UNF) 6-4, 6-0

No. 5- Elena Volobueva (ETSU) def. Ina Durcakova (UNF) 2-6, 6-2, 6-4

No. 6- Vita Moskaliova (ETSU) def. Robin Rogers (UNF) 6-3, 6-2

Doubles

No. 1- Stupak/Volobueva (ETSU) def. Castillo/Sanchez (UNF) 8-6

No. 2- Ilina/Batsula (ETSU) def. Sanchez/Desmarais (UNF) 8-4

No. 3- Durcakova/Torres (UNF) def. Byrne/Moskaliova (UNF) 8-7 (7-3)

ETSU 6, TTU 1

Singles

No. 1- Olya Batsula (ETSU) def. Margot Carter (TTU) 6-4, 7-6

No. 2- Tara Byrne (ETSU) def. Amy Anstey (TTU) 6-1, 6-1

No. 3- Marina Ruiz (TTU) def. Vita Moskaliova (ETSU) 6-3, 0-6, 6-1

No. 4- Whitney Trotter (ETSU) def. Evgenia Yartseva (TTU) 6-2, 6-2

No. 5- DNP

No. 6- DNP

Doubles

No. 1- Stupak/Ilina (ETSU) def. Carter/Ruiz (TTU) 8-4

No. 2- Stewart/Byrne (ETSU) def. Anstey/Yartseva (TTU) 8-3

No. 3- DNP