Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University
Florida International
Tennis Defeats Florida International, 5-1
2/1/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
Feb. 1, 2009
Complete Release in PDF Format 
ATHENS, Ga. - The Marshall University women's tennis team kicked-off the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) National Team Indoor Championship weekend with a 5-1 victory over Florida International University this morning at the Hopkins Indoor Courts at the University of Georgia.
The No. 45 and two seed Thundering Herd improved to 3-1, while the No. 57 and three seed Golden Panthers are 1-2 so far this season.
"This was a great win for our team," Marshall's Head Coach John Mercer said. "We are excited to see who we will play in the second round tomorrow."
The Herd will either face the 53rd-ranked and four seed Ole Miss (0-0) or the No. 6 and one seed Georgia (2-0), Monday, at the Hopkins Indoor Courts. Ole Miss is set to play at 9 a.m. and Georgia will play at 2 p.m., Monday, no matter the final decision Sunday afternoon.
Marshall will advance to the second round and is one win closer to earning one of the 15 available spots for the 2009 ITA National Team Indoor Championship, to be held at the University of Wisconsin's Nielsen Tennis Stadium, Feb. 13-16.
The pair of Catherine Kellner (Smithtown, N.Y.) and Isabell Raich (Klaus, Austria) started doubles play with an 8-3 victory over Maria Spenceley and Maria José Vallasciani at the No. 3 slot.
The 44th-ranked senior tandem of Kellie Schmitt (Pittsburgh, Pa.) and Karolina Soor (Lindesburg, Sweden) secured the doubles point for the Herd with an 8-4 decision over Liset Brito and Priscilla Castillo at the No. 1 position.
Playing at the No. 2, the pair of Jessica Keener (Reston, Va.) and Deanna Bailey (McDonough, Ga.) ended their match unfinished with the score 7-6 in favor of the Herd against Mariana Muci Torres and Maria Dolores Pazo.
Bailey took a straight-set victory over Spenceley, 6-4, 6-0, at the No. 4 mark. The 33rd-ranked Schmitt defeated Brito, 6-2, 6-3, at the No.1 position.
Florida International's Castillo then took a 6-0, 2-6, 6-0 decision over Raich to bring the score to 3-1.
Marshall finished singles play with victories from Keener and Kellner. Keener defeated Vallasciani in straight-sets, 6-4, 6-1, at the No. 5. Kellner took a 6-2, 6-2 advantage over Megan Jones at the No. 6.
Playing the No. 3 position, Soor and Torres stopped play in the third set, with Soor taking the first set, 7-6 and Torres winning the second set, 6-4. The third set was stopped at 1-1.
"Our experience paid off today," Coach Mercer added. "The team competed very well against a tough opponent."
Live stats for all matches can be found at GeorgiaDogs.com.
With the victory, Marshall tied the all-time series with Florida International, 1-1.
If the Herd faces Ole Miss, it will be a first meeting between the two schools. If Marshall plays Georgia, the Bulldogs lead the all-time series, 1-0.
First round winners and losers face each other in the second rounds, Monday. The 15 teams that win its region will advance to the 2009 ITA National Team Indoor Championship final 16.
The top four teams per region were offered to participate in the 2009 ITA National Team Indoor Championship. The Herd stands at No. 4 in the East Region behind William and Mary, Virginia Commonwealth and Virginia.
Tennis Match Results
Marshall vs Florida International
2/1/2009 at Athens, Ga.
#45 Marshall 5, #57 Florida International 1
Singles competition
1. #33 Kellie Schmitt (MAR) def. Liset Brito (FIU) 6-2, 6-3
2. Priscilla Castillo (FIU) def. Isabell Raich (MAR) 6-0, 2-6, 6-0
3. Karolina Soor (MAR) vs. Mariana Muci Torres (FIU) no result
4. Deanna Bailey (MAR) def. Maria Spenceley (FIU) 6-4, 6-0
5. Jessica Keener (MAR) def. MariaJoseVallasciani (FIU) 6-4, 6-1
6. Catherine Kellner (MAR) def. Megan Jones (FIU) 6-2, 6-2
Doubles competition
1. #44 Kellie Schmitt/Karolina Soor (MAR) def. Liset Brito/Priscilla Castillo (FIU) 8-4
2. Jessica Keener/Deanna Bailey (MAR) def. Mariana Muci Torres/Maria Dolores Pazo (FIU) 7-6
3. Isabell Raich/Catherine Kellner (MAR) def. Maria Spenceley/MariaJoseVallasciani (FIU) 8-3
Match Notes:
Marshall 3-1; National ranking #45
Florida International 1-2; National ranking #57
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1); Singles (4,1,2,5,6)
ITA Kickoff Weekend: #2 seed MU vs. #3 seed FIU
Official: Walt Williams
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Players Mentioned
