Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University
VCU
Virginia Commonwealth Tops Tennis 5-2
3/6/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
March 6, 2009
Complete Release in PDF Format 
RICHMOND, Va. - The Marshall University women's tennis team fell 5-2 to the No. 41 Virginia Commonwealth University Friday afternoon at the Thalhimer Tennis Center. The No. 49 Thundering Herd stands 7-6 overall, while the Rams improved to 11-5 so far this season.
"We fought really hard against a good VCU team," Marshall's assistant coach Megan Muth said. "We learned a lot of things from today's match."
The Herd's senior pair of Kellie Schmitt (Pittsburgh, Pa.) and Karolina Soor (Lindesburg, Sweden) started doubles play with an 8-2 victory over VCU's team of Alex Bara and Ana Bara at the No. 1 position.
The Rams' duo of Kateryna Yergina and Laura Burns defeated Isabell Raich (Klaus, Austria) and Kristina Koprcina (Split, Croatia), 8-1, at the No. 2 mark.
Marshall secured the doubles point with a 9-7 advantage at the No. 3 slot. The team of Jessica Keener (Reston, Va.) and Catherine Kellner (Smithtown, N.Y.) defeated Mihaela Bunea and Olena Leonchuk.
The Herd would go into singles play with a 1-0 lead.
Playing the No. 1 slot, Schmitt would be Marshall's lone singles victory. Schmitt (91st) took a straight-set victory over Ana Bara (122th), 6-2, 6-2.
The Rams' Yergina defeated Raich, 6-4, 0-6, 6-3, at the No. 2 mark. Soor fell 3-6, 7-5, 6-2 to Burns at the No. 3 position.
Alex Bara took a straight-set victory over Keener, 6-3, 7-5, at the No. 4 slot. Kellner fell to Leonchuk, 6-2, 7-5, at the No. 5 mark. Bunea defeated Thaddea Lock (Bristol, England) 6-0, 6-4 at the No. 6 position.
VCU enhanced its all-time series lead over Marshall to 3-0.
"We hope to capitalize tomorrow against Old Dominion," Coach Muth added.
Marshall will wrap-up its seven match road trip Saturday morning against the No. 55 Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Va. First serve is slated for 11 a.m. at the Folkes-Stevens Indoor Tennis Center.
The Monarchs enter the contest 9-4 overall on the season.
Old Dominion's Nadine Fahoum is ranked 99th, while teammate Charleen Haarhoff is ranked 105th in the latest singles poll.
The pair of Haarhoff and Fahoum is 34th, while the Monarchs duo of Joanna Dobrowolska and Irina Dementyeva stand 79th in the latest doubles rankings.
Marshall has faced Old Dominion six times in school history, with the Monarchs leading the series, 4-2. Last season, the Herd took a 6-1 victory over the Monarchs in Huntington.
Marshall stands 2-2 at home, 4-3 on the road and 1-1 at neutral sites so far this season.
# # #
Tennis Match Results
Marshall vs Virginia Commonwealth
3/6/2009 at Richmond, Va.
#41 Virginia Commonwealth 5, #49 Marshall 2
Singles competition
1. #91 Kellie Schmitt (MAR) def. #122 Ana Bara (VCU) 6-2, 6-2
2. Kateryna Yergina (VCU) def. Isabell Raich (MAR) 6-4, 0-6, 6-3
3. Laura Burns (VCU) def. Karolina Soor (MAR) 3-6, 7-5, 6-2
4. Alex Bara (VCU) def. Jessica Keener (MAR) 6-3, 7-5
5. Olena Leonchuk (VCU) def. Catherine Kellner (MAR) 6-2, 7-5
6. Mihaela Bunea (VCU) def. Thaddea Lock (MAR) 6-0, 6-4
Doubles competition
1. Kellie Schmitt/Karolina Soor (MAR) def. Alex Bara/Ana Bara (VCU) 8-2
2. Kateryna Yergina/Laura Burns (VCU) def. Isabell Raich/Kristina Koprcina (MAR) 8-1
3. Jessica Keener/Catherine Kellner (MAR) def. Mihaela Bunea/Olena Leonchuk (VCU) 9-7
Match Notes:
Marshall 7-6; National ranking #49
Virginia Commonwealth 11-5; National ranking #41
Players Mentioned
