DELAND, FLA. (March 9, 2007) - The ETSU women's tennis team fought back from their loss on Wednesday and defeated conference foes Stetson University 5-2 at the Mandy Stoll Tennis Center today. The Ladybucs improve to 6-7 on the season and lead the Atlantic Sun conference 2-0.

The day started out with ETSU sweeping the doubles and taking the 1-0 lead in the match. Masha Ilina (Kyiv, Ukraine) and Olya Batsula (Minsk, Belarus) won the first match defeating Virginia Glabarini and Katherine Nowicki 8-4 in the No. 1 position. Yevgeniya Stupak (Kyiv,, Ukraine) and Elena Volobueva (Barcelona, Spain) clinched the doubles point in the No. 2 position with a convincing 8-2 win over Catherine Canady and Anna Leonenko. Tara Byrne (Johnson City, Tenn.) and Vita Moskaliova (Minsk, Belarus) pulled out a tight win in the third position over Breanna Atkinson and Katherine St. Clair 9-8 (3).

Still getting used to the heat and outdoor play, the Ladybucs battled some hard fought matches and the match took many turns throughout singles play. Sophomore Tara Byrne secured the second point for ETSU with a 6-4, 6-2 win over Katherine Nowicki in the No. 4 slot. The Hatters came back with a victory in the No. 6 position, with Whitney Trotter (Guadalajara, Mexico) falling to Katherine St. Clair 6-3, 7-5. ETSU remained ahead as Elena Volobueva came through her three set match in the heat defeating Catherine Canady 6-2, 3-6, 6-2 in the fifth position, and Masha Ilina secured the conference win for ETSU with a victory over Anna Leonenko in the No. 3 position 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.

Yevgeniya Stupak battled through the match of the day in the top position for the Ladybucs. She defeated Virginia Galbarina, a freshman from Montevideo, Uruguay 7-6 (7), 6-0. Olya Batsula came out strong in her match in the No. 2 position taking the first set, but was eventually defeated by Breanna Atkinson 0-6, 6-4, 7-5.

"Overall I'm pleased we had a good trip and we were able to battle the heat and win," said head coach Steve Brooks. "A lot of times today's match could have gone either way. This has been the best week for Yevgeniya, the girl that she played today who is also a freshman has only lost one match this year. I am glad we could take this win, Stetson have improved from last year and now we are leading the conference 2-0."

ETSU women's tennis will head back to Johnson City and prepare to take on # 3 University of Georgia in Athens, Ga. Wednesday, March 14 at 11 a.m.

Doubles

No. 1- Ilina/Batsula (ETSU) def. Galbarini/Nowicki (SU) 8-4

No. 2- Stupak/Volobueva (ETSU) def. Canady/Leonenko (SU) 8-2

No. 3- Byrne/Moskaliova (ETSU) def. Atkinson/St. Clair (SU) 9-8 (3).

Finishing Order: 1, 2*, 3

Singles

No. 1- Yevgeniya Stupak (ETSU) def. Virginia Galbarina (SU) 7-6 (7), 6-0

No. 2- Breanna Atkinson (SU) def. Olya Batsula (ESTU) 0-6, 6-4. 7-5

No. 3- Masha Ilina (ETSU) def. Anna Leonenko (SU) 3-6, 6-3, 6-4

No. 4- Tara Byrne (ETSU) def. Katherine Nowicki (SU) 6-4, 6-2

No. 5- Elena Volobueva (ETSU) def. Catherine Canady (SU) 6-2, 3-6, 6-2

No. 6- Katherine St. Clair (SU) def. Whitney Trotter 6-3, 7-5

Finishing Order: 4, 6, 5, 3*, 1, 2