JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (April 18, 2008) - The Lady Bucs tennis team advanced to the semifinal round of the Atlantic Sun Conference Tournament after downing Mercer, 4-0 on Friday morning. The Lady Bucs improve to 13-10 overall, while the Bears fall to 9-16.

ETSU took doubles point to earn a 1-0 advantage. Yevgeniya Stupak (Kyiv, Ukraine) and Olya Batsula (Minsk, Belarus) cruised past Anna Wieslander and Priscilla Dias, 8-1 in the No. 1 position, while Tara Byrne (Johnson City, Tenn.) and Vita Moskaliova (Minsk, Belarus), 8-4 in the No. 2 slot. The No. 3 doubles match was called when ETSU took the point.

The Lady Bucs again dominated in singles action dropping Mercer in straight sets in the No. 1, 2, and 5 positions. Conference tournament play is suspended when one team has clinched the match.  In the No. 2 slot Tara Byrne was first off the court as she dropped Irys Citko, 6-0, 6-1, while Tara Sheets (Gate City, Va.) breezed by Karen Bellman, 6-1, 6-2 in the No. 5 slot. In the top position Olya Batsula cruised past Anna Wieslander, 6-0, 6-3.

"We used today as our Senior Day and it was very emotional for the girls coming into the match. We played really well and they were able to let that emotion carry over into their performance," said head coach Steve Brooks. "It was really good to see Tara Sheets back out on the court, she played a very clean game. Olya and Tara Byrne just continued to do what they do and hopefully we can bring that intensity again tomorrow."

The Lady Bucs will face the winner of Stetson tomorrow at 11:30 a.m. at Milligan College. For all ETSU women's tennis action visit www.ETSUBucs.com.

ETSU 4, MER 0 

Singles

No. 1- Olya Batsula (ETSU) def. Anna Wieslander (MER) 6-0, 6-3

No. 2- Tara Byrne (ETSU) def. Irys Citko (MER) 6-0, 6-1

No. 3- Elena Volobueva (ETSU) vs. Priscilla Dias (MER) DNF

No. 4- Andra Voinea (ETSU) vs. Amalia Bugge (MER) DNF

No. 5- Tara Sheets (ETSU) vs. Karen Bellman (MER) 6-1, 6-2

No. 6- Whitney Trotter (ETSU) vs. Kelly Blount (MER) DNF

Doubles

No. 1- Batsula/Stupak (ETSU) def. Wieslander/Dias (MER) 8-1

No. 2- Byrne/Moskaliova (ETSU) def. Sachs/Bugge (MER) 8-4