NASHVILLE, TENN. (March 31, 2007) - The ETSU women's tennis team faced conference opponents Lipscomb and Belmont today and swept both matches 7-0. The Lady Bucs now improve to 12-9 on the season and 6-1 in conference play.

The Lady Bucs started out the day with their match against Lipscomb. ETSU won all three doubles matches, Masha Ilina (Kyiv, Ukraine) and Olya Batsula (Minsk, Belarus) defeated Erin Moakler and Raphaela Jann 8-0 in the No. 1 position. Yevgeniya Stupak (Kyiv, Ukraine) and Elena Volobueva (Barcelona, Spain) defeated Emily and Olivia Ellis 8-3 in the No. 2 position, and Tara Byrne Johnson City, Tenn.) and Brittany Stewart (Nashville, Tenn.) defeated Casey Hall and Cailtin Khouri 8-2 in the third position.

ETSU didn't waste any time in singles play, with the 1-0 lead secured the Lady Bucs won all six singles matches in straight sets. Masha Ilina defeated Raphaela Jann in the No. 1 position 6-1, 6-0, while Yevgeniya Stupak put away Erin Moakler 6-0, 6-0 in the second position. In the third slot Olya Batsula defeated Emily Ellis 6-1, 6-2, while Tara Byrne defeated Olivia Ellis 6-1, 6-2. In the No. 5 slot Elena Volobueva won her match 6-2, 6-0 against Casey Hall, and in the sixth position Vita Moskaliova (Minsk, Belarus) defeated Caitlin Khouri 6-1, 6-1.

Taking on Belmont in the afternoon match, ETSU claimed a similar victory. Masha Ilina and Olya Batsula picked up another win in the No. 1 position over Tatiana Pozo and Arpil Bradley 8-3, while Yevgeniya Stupak and Elena Volobueva won 8-4 against Elizabeth Coyner and Katie Rhodes. In the third position Tara Byrne and Vita Moskaliova defeated Linda Johansson and Kelly Pense 8-3.

In singles action Masha Ilina overcame Linda Johansson in a tiebreaker for the third set 6-1, 4-6 (6), while Yevgeniya Stupak defeated Elizabeth Coyner 6-0, 6-1. Olya Batsula won her match in the third position against Tatiana Pozo 6-2, 6-0, while Tara Byrne defeated April Bradley 6-3, 6-0 in the fourth slot. Elena Volobueva defeated Katie Rhodes in the fifth position 6-3, 6-2, and Vita Moskaliova won against Kelly Pense in the No. 6 position 6-1, 6-0.

"Both teams have improves since last year, and I think that allowed us to play closer to our game," said head coach Steve Brooks. " I am happy with today, now our road trips are done and I can't wait for our home matches. I think we are doing well and are positioning ourselves well for the conference tournament."

ETSU 7, Lipscomb 0

Doubles

No. 1- Ilina/Batsula (ETSU) def. Moakler/Jann (LU) 8-0

No. 2- Stupak/Volobueva (ETSU) def. Ellis/Ellis (LU) 8-3

No. 3- Byrne/Stewart (ETSU) def. Hall/Khouri (LU) 8-2

Singles

No. 1- Masha Ilina (ETSU) def. Raphaela Jann (LU) 6-1, 6-0

No. 2- Yevgeniya Stupak (ETSU) def. Erin Moakler (LU) 6-0, 6-0

No. 3- Olya Batsula (ETSU) def. Emily Ellis (LU) 6-1, 6-2

No. 4- Tara Byrne (ETSU) def. Olivia Ellis (LU) 6-1, 6-2

No. 5- Elena Volobueva (ETSU) def. Casey Hall (LU) 6-2, 6-0

No. 6- Vita Moskaliova (ETSU) def. Caitlin Khouri (LU) 6-1, 6-1

ETSU 7, Belmont 0

Doubles

No. 1- Ilina/Batsula (ETSU) def. Pozo/Bradley (BU) 8-3

No. 2- Stupka/Volobueva (ETSU) def. Coyner/Rhodes (BU) 8-4

No. 3- Byrne/Moskaliova (ETSU) def. Johansson/Pense (BU) 8-3

Singles

No. 1- Masha Ilina (ETSU) def. Linda Johansson (BU) 6-1, 4-6, (6)

No. 2- Yevgeniya Stupak (ETSU) def. Elizabeth Coyner (BU) 6-0, 6-1

No. 3- Olya Batsula (ETSU) def. Tatiana Pozo (BU) 6-2, 6-0

No. 4- Tara Byrne (ETSU) def. April Bradley (BU) 6-3, 6-0

No. 5- Elena Volobueva (ETSU) def. Katie Rhodes (BU) 6-4, 6-2

No. 6- Vita Moskaliova (ETSU) def. Kelly Pence (BU) 6-1, 6-0