JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (April 13, 2009) - After honoring both seniors Tara Byrne (Johnson City) and Vita Moskavoliva (Minsk, Belarus) before the match the ETSU women's tennis team soared past in-state rival Tennessee Tech 7-0, Monday afternoon at the Buddy Hartsell Tennis Center in Johnson City, Tenn. With the win the Lady Bucs improve to 14-6 overall, while the Golden Eagles fall to 7-9.

"Today was another complete win for the girls," said head coach Steve Brooks. "With this being senior day this program is going to miss both Vita and Tara. Both girls have been outstanding to coach and I'm proud of all they have accomplished here at ETSU."

ETSU opened play sweeping all three doubles matches 8-4. In No. 1 doubles junior Yevgeniya Stupak (Kyiv, Ukraine) and freshman Paula Jaime (Madrid, Spain) rolled past Kelly Holtzhausen and Katie Barnhill, while teammates Byrne and freshman Karina Kedzo (Puerto Ordaz, Venezuela) continued their hot play dropping Joanna Corken and Evgenia Yartseva. Rounding out the pairs competition in No. 3 action was sophomore Tara Sheets (Gate City, Va.) and Andra Voinea (Brasov, Romania), who breezed past Laura Porras and Diana Woodcock.

After Tech's Barnhill retired due to injury in her match with Tara Byrne the Lady Bucs extended its advantage to 3-0 as No. 109-ranked Stupak had little trouble with Holtzhausen dropping the All-OVC performer in straight sets 6-2, 6-2.

As play continued newcomer Paula Jaime dominated her head-to-head match with Yartseva dropping the Tennessee Tech senior 6-0, 6-0 in No. 4 singles, while Tara Sheets had little trouble with Joanna Corken in No. 5, rolling to a easy 6-2, 6-0 two-set win.

Just like her teammates did early in the match junior Whitney Trotter (Guadalajara, Mexico) continued her outstanding play late this spring picking up her third win-in-a-row crushing Diana Woodcock in straight sets, 6-1, 6-3, while Karina Kedzo bounced back after a tough first set, closing out Laura Porras, 7-6, 6-2.

"Yevgeniya beat a good player in No. 1 singles today," said Brooks. "The girl that played against her for Tech was a good test and really hit the ball solid, so I was proud to see Stupak play well. Overall, I wanted our team and to build some momentum this last week as the Atlantic Sun Conference tournament approaches. I think in these's last four matches each girl has worked hard and I like how we are playing as Thursday gets closer." 

Now with the regular season completed the Lady Bucs will return to action as they play host to the 2009 A-Sun Conference Tournament at the Buddy Hartsell Tennis Center on the ETSU campus. ETSU enters the league's bracket as the No. 2 seed and will square off against fellow in-state rival Lipscomb at 11:30 a.m., Thursday.

Doubles

1. ETSU Stupak/Jaime d. TTU Hotzhausen/Barnhill 8-4

2. ETSU Byrne/Kedzo d. TTU Corken/Yartseva 8-4

3. ETSU Sheets/Voinea d. TTU Porras/Woodcock 8-4

Singles

1. ETSU Stupak d. TTU Hortzhausen 6-2, 6-2

2. ETSU Byrne d. TTU Barnhill 1-0, Ret.

3. ETSU Kedzo d. TTU Porras 7-6, 6-2

4. ETSU Jaime d. TTU Yartseva 6-0, 6-0

5. ETSU Sheets d. TTU Corken 6-2, 6-0

6. ETSU Trotter d. TTU Woodcock 6-1, 6-3

ETSU d. TTU 7-0

Buddy Hartsell Tennis Center

For more information on the ETSU women's tennis program please visit www.ETSUBucs.com