TAMPA, Fla. (January 28, 2006) ? The No. 45 University of South Florida women's tennis team (1-0) kicked off its 2006 season with a 6-1 victory over the Stetson Hatters (3-2) Saturday afternoon at the USF Varsity Tennis Courts.
Due to the late scratch of senior Luisa Obando, the Bulls, started the match a point down forfeiting the No. 6 singles and No. 3 doubles.
The Bulls started off on the right foot, by taking both doubles matches played to knot the score up at 1-1. The nationally ranked doubles team (No. 5 by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association) of Gabriela Duch and Neyssa Etienne easily defeated Mili Milovonovic and Marina Levin of Stetson, 8-0. Shortly after Liz Cruz and Iciri Rai clinched the doubles point with an 8-2, victory over Maja Miladinovic and Samantha Lange.
In singles, USF dominated all five matches played to earn a 6-1 victory against the Hatters. First off the court was junior Duch who defeated Anna Leoenko, 6-0, 6-0 at the No. 4 singles position. On the afternoon, Duch did not drop a point in either her singles or doubles match.
Sophomore Cruz clinched the victory for the Bulls with her 6-2, 6-3, victory over Levin at the No. 3 position.
“The Girls were very well prepared for this match,” said head coach Augustin Moreno after his first career victory at USF. “They worked very hard over the past few months and it definitely showed on the court this afternoon. The team is well prepared to take on Florida rivals such at Central Florida and Florida.”
The Bulls will return to the courts when they travel to Orlando, Fla., to face the UCF Golden Knights on Wednesday, February 1, 2006. First serve is set for 2 p.m.
No. 45 USF vs. Stetson
January 28, 2006
USF Varsity Tennis Courts
Doubles
1. No. 5 Etienne/Duch (USF) def. Milovonovic/Levin (Stetson) 8-0
2. Cruz/Rai (USF) def. Miladinovic/Lange (Stetson) 8-2
3. Default, Stetson Victory
Singles
1. Neyssa Etienne (USF) def. Mili Milovonovic (Stetson) 6-0, 6-2
2. Courtney Vernon (USF) def. Maja Miladinovic (Stetson) 6-0, 6-2
3. Liz Cruz (USF) def. Marina Levin (Stetson) 6-2, 6-3
4. Gabriela Duch (USF) def. Anna Leoenko (Stetson) 6-0, 6-0
5. Iciri Rai (USF) def. Catherine Canady, 6-1, 6-1
6. Default, Stetson Victory
