Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University
Virginia
Tennis Falls 5-2 to Virginia
2/21/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
Feb. 21, 2009
Complete Release in PDF Format 
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - The No. 54 Thundering Herd women's tennis team dropped a 5-2 decision to No. 29 University of Virginia, Saturday morning at the Boar's Head Sports Club. Marshall University fell to 5-5 overall, while the Cavaliers improved to 5-2 so far this season.
"Virginia was focused today and was a great team to play," Marshall's head coach John Mercer said.
Virginia swept doubles play starting with the 46th-ranked pair of Jennifer Stevens and Emily Fraser taking an 8-1 decision over the duo of Deanna Bailey (McDonough, Ga.) and Jessica Keener (Reston, Va.), at the No. 1 position.
Playing the No. 3 slot, Lindsey Hardenbergh and Maggie Yahner defeated Karolina Soor (Lindesburg, Sweden) and Thaddea Lock (Bristol, England), 8-4.
The Herd's team of Kellie Schmitt (Pittsburgh, Pa.) and Isabell Raich (Klaus, Austria) fell 8-4 to Neela Vaez and Amanda Rales, which secured the doubles point for the Cavaliers.
"We had some chances today, but we couldn't capitalize on enough of them to break through," Coach Mercer continued.
The Herd would fight back in singles play but would fall short to the Cavaliers. Virginia took two straight-set matches at the number three and four positions to enhance its lead to 3-0.
Rales defeated Bailey, 6-1, 6-0, at the No. 4, while Raich fell to the 80th-ranked Stevens, 6-1, 6-4, at the No. 3 slot.
Schmitt, ranked 90th, then fell in three sets to Fraser, 6-4, 2-6, 6-0, at the No. 1 position. Kellner couldn't hold off Vaez at the No. 6 slot and fell 2-6, 6-3, 6-2 at the No. 6 slot to extend the Cavaliers' lead to 5-0.
Marshall would close the match with two wins from Keener and Soor.
Keener took a 6-4, 2-6, 6-2 advantage over Karoline Steiro at the No. 5 position. Soor defeated Hardenbergh, 7-6, 4-6, 10-6, at the No. 3 slot.
Virginia enhanced its all-time series lead over the Herd to 9-1.
"Hopefully we can continue to learn and improve," Coach Mercer added.
Marshall will continue its seven match road trip winless (0-3) next weekend against Mid-American rival, Eastern Michigan and Big Ten rival, Michigan State (70th).
The Herd will first play Eastern Michigan, Saturday, Feb. 28, with first set for 1 p.m. Marshall then faces the Spartans, Sunday, March 1, at 11 a.m.
# # #
Tennis Match Results
Marshall vs Virginia
2/21/2009 at Charlottesville, Va.
#29 Virginia 5, #54 Marshall 2
Singles competition
1. Emily Fraser (UVA) def. #90 Kellie Schmitt (MAR) 6-4, 2-6, 6-0
2. Karolina Soor (MAR) def. Lindsey Hardenbergh (UVA) 7-6, 4-6, 10-6
3. #80 Jennifer Stevens (UVA) def. Isabell Raich (MAR) 6-1, 6-4
4. Amanda Rales (UVA) def. Deanna Bailey (MAR) 6-1, 6-0
5. Jessica Keener (MAR) def. Karoline Steiro (UVA) 6-4, 2-6, 6-2
6. Neela Vaez (UVA) def. Catherine Kellner (MAR) 2-6, 6-3, 6-2
Doubles competition
1. #46 Jennifer Stevens/Emily Fraser (UVA) def. Deanna Bailey/Jessica Keener (MAR) 8-1
2. Neela Vaez/Amanda Rales (UVA) def. Isabell Raich/Kellie Schmitt (MAR) 8-4
3. Lindsey Hardenbergh/Maggie Yahner (UVA) def. Thaddea Lock/Karolina Soor (MAR) 8-4
Match Notes:
Marshall 5-5; National ranking #54
Virginia 5-2; National ranking #29
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3,2); Singles (4,3,1,6,5,2)
Players Mentioned
