Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University
Auburn
No. 33 Auburn Downs No. 73 Marshall, 6-1
3/26/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
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March 26, 2008
AUBURN, Ala. - The No. 33 Auburn University took a 6-1 advantage over the No. 73 Marshall University women's tennis team, Wednesday afternoon at the Yarbrough Tennis Center. The Tigers improved to 13-5 overall while the Thundering Herd dropped to 12-7 so far this season.
Auburn holds the all-time series lead over Marshall, 1-0.
No. 18 duo of Alex Haney and Melissa Koning defeated the 23rd-ranked pair Kellie Schmitt (Pittsburgh, Pa.) and Karolina Soor (Lindesberg, Sweden), 8-4, at the number one mark. Thaddea Lock (Bristol, England) and Isabell Raich (Klaus, Austria) fell to Whitney Chappell and Fani Chifchieva, 8-2, at the number two position. Gaby Beelen and Jill Hastenrath took a 9-7 decision over Jessica Keener (Reston, Va.) and Yulia Kashelkina (Moscow, Russia) at the number three position.
In singles competition, Keener took a straight-set victory, 6-3, 6-2, over Beelen to give the Herd its lone point at the number six mark.
No. 24 Chifchieva dropped 60th-ranked Schmitt, 6-2, 6-1 at the number one. Soor fell short to Haney, 6-3, 6-2 at the two. Koning defeated Jeanne Schwartz (West Palm Beach, Fla.), 7-5, 6-1 at the number three slot.
Playing the number four, Chappell took a 6-1, 6-2 decision over Raich. Hastenrath defeated Lock, 6-3, 6-2, at the number five mark.
"We played a good team today and need to move on to tomorrow's match," Marshall's head coach John Mercer said. "We need to be ready to play better against South Alabama."
Marshall will hope to end its four-match losing streak against the 52nd-ranked South Alabama (13-2), Thursday at the Bruce David Lubel Memorial Tennis Courts in Mobile, Ala. with first serve set for 1 p.m. For the Jaguars, Michaela Babicova ranks 103rd with teammates Adrianna Solarova and Sylvanie Spangenberg are tied as the 35th-ranked duo. The all-time series lead is tied at 2-2 between the Jaguars and the Herd. Marshall took a 5-2 decision over South Alabama in 2007.
Marshall vs Auburn
3/26/2008 at Auburn, Ala.
#33 Auburn 6, #73 Marshall 1
Singles competition
1. #24 Fani Chifchieva (AUB) def. #60 Kellie Schmitt (MAR) 6-2, 6-1
2. Alex Haney (AUB) def. Karolina Soor (MAR) 6-3, 6-2
3. Melissa Koning (AUB) def. Jeanne Schwartz (MAR) 7-5, 6-1
4. Whitney Chappell (AUB) def. Isabell Raich (MAR) 6-1, 6-2
5. Jill Hastenrath (AUB) def. Thaddea Lock (MAR) 6-4, 6-3
6. Jessica Keener (MAR) def. Gaby Beelen (AUB) 6-3, 6-2
Doubles competition
1. #18 Alex Haney/Melissa Koning (AUB) def. #23 Kellie Schmitt/Karolina Soor (MAR) 8-4
2. Whitney Chappell/Fani Chifchieva (AUB) def. Thaddea Lock/Isabell Raich (MAR) 8-2
3. Gaby Beelen/Jill Hastenrath (AUB) def. Jessica Keener/Yulia Kashelkina (MAR) 9-7
Match Notes:
Marshall 12-7; National ranking #73
Auburn 13-5; National ranking #33
Players Mentioned
