Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University
Michigan State
Tennis Defeats Michigan State, 4-3
3/1/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
March 1, 2009
Complete Release in PDF Format 
EAST LANSING, Mich. - The Marshall University women's tennis team defeated Big Ten opponent, Michigan State University, Sunday morning. The No. 54 Thundering Herd took a 4-3 victory over the No. 70 Spartans, at the MSU Indoor Facility.
Marshall improved to 7-5 overall, while Michigan State fell to 6-6 on the season.
"Michigan State played very inspired and ready to play," Marshall's head coach John Mercer said. "Michigan State is a tough team that showed some fire on the court today."
The Spartans started play victorious by taking the doubles point at the number one and two positions.
The senior duo of Kellie Schmitt (Pittsburgh, Pa) and Karolina Soor (Lindesburg, Sweden) fell 9-8 to the pair of Manon Noe and Whitney Wilson at the No. 1 slot. Elena Ivanova and Stephanie Kebler took an 8-3 advantage over the Herd's team of Jessica Keener (Reston, Va.) and Deanna Bailey (McDonough, Ga.) at the No. 2 mark.
Marshall's duo of Isabell Raich (Klaus, Austria) and Catherine Kellner (Smithtown, N.Y.) defeated Lindsey Lonergan and Ana Milosavljevic, 8-4, at the No. 3position.
With the Spartans leading 1-0 into singles action, the Herd fought to win its singles matches to secure the victory.
Playing the No. 1 slot, Schmitt, ranked 90th, defeated Kebler, 2-6, 6-3, 6-2. Soor took a straight-set victory of Noe, 6-4, 6-1, at the No. 2 mark.
Marshall's 2-1 victory would soon diminish with two Spartan victories at the number three and four slots.
Ivanova defeated Raich, 6-3, 6-3, at the No. 3 mark. Playing the No. 4 position, Milosavljevic took a 1-6, 6-4, 7-5 decision over Bailey.
Marshall's Keener defeated Wilson, 1-6, 7-5, 6-4, at the No. 5 mark to tie the match. Kellner's straight-set victory over Dana Guentert, 6-3, 6-2, at the No. 6 slot secured the Herd's win.
"I was impressed with the way the team fought through to win," Coach Mercer added. "We look forward to down the road and continue to win close matches."
The Herd enhanced its all-time series lead over the Spartans to 2-0.
Marshall will conclude its seven match road trip against Virginia Commonwealth University and Old Dominion next weekend. The Herd first challenges No. 36 VCU, Friday, March 6, at 2 p.m. Marshall will then play No. 57 Old Dominion, Saturday morning, March 7, with first serve set for 11 a.m.
The Herd stands at 4-2 on the road and 1-1 at neutral sites so far this season.
# # #
Tennis Match Results
Marshall vs Michigan State
3/1/2009 at East Lansing, Mich.
#54 Marshall 4, #70 Michigan State 3
Singles competition
1. #90 Kellie Schmitt (MAR) def. Kebler, Stephanie (MSU-W) 2-6, 6-3, 6-2
2. Karolina Soor (MAR) def. Noe, Manon (MSU-W) 6-4, 6-1
3. Ivanova, Elena (MSU-W) def. Isabell Raich (MAR) 6-3, 6-3
4. Milosavljevic, Ana (MSU-W) def. Deanna Bailey (MAR) 1-6, 6-4, 7-5
5. Jessica Keener (MAR) def. Wilson, Whitney (MSU-W) 1-6, 7-5, 6-4
6. Catherine Kellner (MAR) def. Guentert, Dana (MSU-W) 6-3, 6-2
Doubles competition
1. Noe, Manon/Wilson, Whitney (MSU-W) def. Kellie Schmitt/Karolina Soor (MAR) 9-8
2. Ivanova, Elena/Kebler, Stephanie (MSU-W) def. Deanna Bailey/Jessica Keener (MAR) 8-3
3. Catherine Kellner/Isabell Raich (MAR) def. Lonergan, Lindsey/Milosavljevic, Ana (MSU-W) 8-4
Match Notes:
Marshall 7-5; National ranking #54
Michigan State 6-6; National ranking #70
Players Mentioned
