Monday, November 07, 2005

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (November 6, 2005)  - The ETSU women's tennis team wrapped up their fall competition schedule over the weekend at the second annual Kitty Harrison Invitational at the University of North Carolina.  ETSU was represented by Sandie Knight (Adamstown, Austria), Tara Byrne (Johnson City, Tenn.) and Vita Moskaliova (Minsk, Belarus).

"This is the first time we have had individual wins against top 20 teams and previous All Americans," said head women's tennis coach Steve Brooks.  "This is definitely a step in the right direction for ETSU women's tennis and a great way to end our fall competition."

On Friday, Knight took on the No. 44 ranked Ashley Davis of Wake Forest and fell 6-0. 6-3, and then lost to Ashley James of Virginia Tech, 7-5, 6-4.  On Saturday Knight lost to Caroline Hammond of Virginia, 7-5, 6-3 before coming out on Sunday and getting the victory against Laura Alexander of Virginia, 7-6 (4), 3-6 (6).

Byrne took on Sierra Poske of Wake Forest in her first match on Friday and lost, 6-2, 6-4, before facing off against Inga Beerman of Virginia Tech and falling 6-3, 6-1.  On Saturday Byrne came out strong and got the victory over Winthrop's Patricia Comibra, 6-7 (10), 6-2 (5).  On Sunday Virginia's Lori Stern defeated Byrne 6-4, 4-6 (7).

Moskaliova lost to Blakley Offutt of Wake Forest, 6-3, 6-3, in her first match of the weekend before also falling to Abby Walker of Virginia Tech, 7-5, 6-3.  On Saturday Moskaliova defeated Shannon Stough of Virginia, 6-1, 6-4, before losing in her final match of the weekend to Rachel Del Priore of Virginia, 7-6 (4), 6-4.

In doubles, Knight and Jessica Keener (Marshall)  defeated Seenauth/Mowery of Miami Florida,  8-3. Moskaliova and Byrne lost to Starski/Lupic of Miami Florida, 8-2.  Moskaliova then partnered with Alizee Paradis (Marshall) and lost to Reichert/Tansill of UNC 8-0.  The pair then went on to defeat Reddy/Tellefsen of Minnesota, 8-3, and Archer/Zwacki of Duke, 8-6. 

Knight and Byrne lost to Collins/Markovic of UNC, 8-2 on Friday and came back the next day and got the victory against malmberg/Mousseau of Minnesota, 8-6.  On Sunday the pair lost to Zika/Deltour of Duke, 8-5. 

For more information on the women's tennis team, visit www.etsubucs.com/sports/wtennis .