No. 74-ranked Stupak moves to 3-0 on the season

CHARLESTON, S.C. (Feb. 20, 2009) - Despite battling windy conditions the ETSU women's tennis team seemed to be at ease in its first outdoor match of the season as the Bucs breezed past Charleston Southern 5-2, Friday afternoon at the Buccaneer Tennis Complex, in Charleston, S.C. With the win ETSU improves to 1-2 on the young season, while Charleston Southern also falls to a 1-2 mark.

ETSU took the early mome­ntum winning two out of three doubles contests. Junior Yevgeniya Stupak (Kyiv, Ukraine) and freshman Paula Jamie (Madrid, Spain) teamed up to take the first pairs contest, dropping the CSU team of Marija Dzakovic and Olga Makhova, 8-0. After sophomore Tara Sheets (Gate City, Va.) and junior Whitney Trotter (Guadalajara, Mexico) lost their match, senior Tara Byrne (Johnson City, Tenn.) and freshman Karina Kedzo (Puerto Ordaz, Venezuela) rallied for the Bucs clinching the early 1-0 lead after defeating Andrea Schutte and Angie Torres, 8-5.

Just like they did in doubles ETSU came out strong early in their first two singles matches. Kedzo gave the Bucs a two point advantage after dropping Torres in straight sets 6-3, 6-1, while newly 74th-ranked Stupak dominated her contest against Makhova 6-1, 6-2. After senior Vita Mosaliova (Minsk, Belarus) fell to Andrea Schutte, newcomer Paula Jamie secured the victory for ETSU after a trilling three-set comeback win against Marija Dzakovic 3-6, 6-3, 6-0.

Rounding out the scoring for ETSU was Tara Sheets who picked up her first win of the season dropping Leonie Mandelkow, 7-5, 6-3, while Tara Byrne fell in a heartbreaking three-set contest to Brooke Pletcher, 2-6, 6-3, 6-4.

"Overall, today wasn't the prettiest win, but it was good to finally be outdoors and get a victory," said head coach Steve Brooks. "Our girls did a great job battling the elements and not letting the wind affect the outcome. Charleston Southern is a good opponent so hopefully our team can take this momentum we built today and carry it with us against Mississippi State next weekend."  

The Bucs return to action as they travel to Southeastern Conference member Mississippi State Feb. 28, in Starkville, Miss.

Doubles

Byrne/Kedzo (ETSU) d. Schutee/Torres (CSU) 8-5

Stupak/Jamie (ETSU) d. Dzakovic/Makhova (CSU) 8-0

Pletcher/Mandekow (CSU) d. Trotter/Sheets (ETSU) 8-5

Singles

# 74 Yevgeniya Stupak (ETSU) d.  Olga Mokhova (CSU) 6-1, 6-2

Brooke Pletcher (CSU) d. Tara Byrne (ETSU) 2-6, 6-3, 6-4

Andrea Schutte (CSU) d. Vita Mosaliova (ETSU) 6-3, 6-1

Paula Jamie (ETSU) d. Marjia Dzakovic (CSU) 3-6, 6-3, 6-0

Karina Kedzo (ETSU) d. Angie Torres  (CSU 6-3, 6-1

Tara Sheets (ETSU) d. Leonie Mandelkow (CSU) 7-5, 6-3

Match Notes:
Charleston Southern 1-2
East Tennessee State 1-2;
Order of finish: Doubles (2,3,1); Singles (5,1,3,4,6,2)

For more information and results on the ETSU women's tennis team please visit www.ETSUBUCS.com.