Wednesday, April 11, 2007

(April 11, 2007) - The ETSU women's tennis team clinched the Atlantics Sun regular season title today overcoming Kennesaw State 7-0. ETSU is now combined with Jacksonville as co-champions of the conference. The Lady Bucs now improve to 14-9 on the season and 8-1 in conference play, while Kennesaw fall to 4-18.

The Lady Bucs started out strong in doubles play winning quickly in the No. 2 position. Elena Volobueva (Barcelona, Spain) and Yevgeniya Stupak (Kyiv, Ukriane) defeated Karen Ammann and Carolina Page 8-2. No. 1 doubles followed as Masha Ilina (Kyiv, Ukraine) and Olya Batsula (Minsk, Belarus) defeated Merceles Cobos and Giselle Nakakura 8-2, and Tara Byrne (Johnson City, Tenn.) and Brittany Stewart (Nashville, Tenn.) out away Jeni Thomas and Lindsey Whalen 8-2.

In singles action freshman Yevgeniya Stupak cruised past Giselle Nakakura 6-0, 6-0 in the No. 2 position, while Masha followed in similar fashion 6-0, 6-0 over Merceles Cobos in the No. 1 position. In the sixth slot Vita Moskaliova beat Lindsey Whalen 6-1, 6-2, while Olya Batsula won her match against Karen Amman 6-1, 6-1 in the third slot. Tara Byrne also won her match without dropping a game, defeating Jeni Thomas 6-0, 6-0 in the No. 4 position, while Elena Volobueva beat Caroline Page 6-3, 6-0 in the fifth position.

"We focused really well today, there is always pressure when you know if you win the match you can become conference champion," said head coach Steve Brooks. "I am real proud that we took seven of our eight conference wins 7-0. I think that we've done a good job getting our focus going into the General Shale Brick Atlantic Sun Tennis Championships. Also today Masha broke the 100 mark in all-time career singles wins, breaking her own record and reaching 101."

Doubles

No. 1- Ilina/Batsula (ETSU) def. Cobos/Nakakura (KSU) 8-2

No. 2- Stupak/Volobueva (ETSU) def. Ammann/Page (KSU) 8-1

No. 3- Byrne/Stewart (ETSU) def. Thomas/Whalen (KSU) 8-2

Order of finish: 2, 1, 3

Singles

No. 1- Masha Ilina (ETSU def. Merceles Cobos (KSU) 6-0, 6-0

No. 2- Yevgeniya Stupak (ETSU) def. Giselle Nakakura (KSU) 6-0, 6-0

No. 3- Olya Batsula (ETSU) def. Karen Ammann (KSU) 6-1, 6-1

No. 4- Tara Byrne (ETSU) def. Jeni Thomas (KSU) 6-0, 6-0

No. 5- Elena Volobueva (ETSU) def. Caroline Page (KSU) 6-3, 6-0

No. 6- Vita Moskaliova (ETSU) def. Lindsey WhalenKSU) 6-1, 6-2

Order of finish: 2, 1, 6*, 3, 4, 5