Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University
Washington at Minnesota
Washington Downs Women's Tennis, 4-3
2/14/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
Feb. 14, 2009
Complete Release in PDF Format 
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. - The Marshall University women's tennis team's upset bid fell short Saturday afternoon. The 36th-ranked University of Washington downed the 44th-ranked Thundering Herd, 4-3, at the Baseline Tennis Center on Minnesota's campus.
The Thundering Herd fell to 5-4 so far this season, while the Huskies improved to 5-1 overall.
"We played a solid and very talented Washington team," Marshall's head coach John Mercer said. "We just couldn't get the breaks we needed today."
The Huskies took the lead early with a sweep to secure the doubles point.
The pair of Aleksandra Malovic and Lina Xu defeated Isabell Raich (Klaus, Austria) and Catherine Kellner (Smithtown, N.Y.), 8-3, at the No. 3 position. The duo of Jessica Keener (Reston, Va.) and Deanna Bailey (McDonough, Ga.) fell 8-4 to Samantha Smith and Joyce Ardies, at the No. 2 mark.
The 47th-ranked Venise Chan and Denise Dy took an 8-5 decision over the 44th-ranked senior pair of Kellie Schmitt (Pittsburgh, Pa.) and Karolina Soor (Lindesburg, Sweden), at the No. 1 position.
"We fought hard and competed well in singles play," Coach Mercer continued.
The Herd would battle the Huskies in singles action till the final match.
Washington's Malovic took a 7-5, 6-2 decision over Kellner at the No. 6 position. The 33rd-ranked Schmitt would take a straight-set victory over No. 81 Chan, 6-4, 6-3, at the No. 1 mark. Soor went into three sets and took a 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 advantage over Xu at the No. 3 slot.
With the match tied 2-2, the Huskies would take victories at the four and five to clench the match. Bailey fell in a close 6-4, 6-4 battle at the No. 4 position to Smith. Ardies defeated Keener, 7-5, 6-2, at the No. 5 slot.
Raich would battle the No. 112 Dy to three sets to win the tiebreaker to finish the match. Raich took a 6-2, 5-7, 7-6 (4) decision over Dy, at the No. 2 position.
Washington enhanced its all-time series lead over Marshall to 2-0.
"We played two tough and well coached squads this weekend," Coach Mercer added. "We are going to keep working on things and get ready for next weekend."
Marshall will continue its seven match road trip next weekend with a 2-1 away and 1-1 neutral overall record so far this season. The Herd will travel to Charlottesville, Va. to play the 29th-ranked University of Virginia, Saturday, Feb. 21, with first serve set at 9 a.m. at the Boyd Tinsley Courts at the Boar's Head Sports Club.
The Cavaliers lead the all-time series between the two schools, 8-1.
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Tennis Match Results
Washington vs Marshall
2/14/2009 at Minneapolis, Minn.
#36 Washington 4, #44 Marshall 3
Singles competition
1. #33 Kellie Schmitt (MAR) def. #81 Venise Chan (WASH) 6-4, 6-3
2. Isabell Raich (MAR) def. #112 Denise Dy (WASH) 6-2, 5-7, 7-6
3. Karolina Soor (MAR) def. Lina Xu (WASH) 4-6, 6-3, 6-3
4. Samantha Smith (WASH) def. Deanna Bailey (MAR) 6-4, 6-4
5. Joyce Ardies (WASH) def. Jessica Keener (MAR) 7-5, 6-2
6. Aleksandra Malovic (WASH) def. Catherine Kellner (MAR) 7-5, 6-2
Doubles competition
1. #47 Venise Chan/Denise Dy (WASH) def. #44 Kellie Schmitt/Karolina Soor (MAR) 8-5
2. Samantha Smith/Joyce Ardies (WASH) def. Deanna Bailey/Jessica Keener (MAR) 8-4
3. Aleksandra Malovic/Lina Xu (WASH) def. Catherine Kellner/Isabell Raich (MAR) 8-3
Match Notes:
Washington 5-1; National ranking #36
Marshall 5-4; National ranking #44
Players Mentioned
