MIAMI, Fla. (January 19, 2007) ? The 33rd ranked University of South Florida women's tennis team took three of six singles matches from the fifth ranked Hurricanes of Miami on the opening day of the FIU Spring Invitational, Friday afternoon.
The Bulls took matches in flights two, three and six, with Miami claiming victories in flights one, four and five.
The top two flights featured match-ups between nationally ranked players as The Bulls' Shadisha Robinson (10th) fought a three-set duel with UM's Audrey Banada (56th) in the first flight, and Courtney Vernon (54th) battled Romy Farah (53rd) of Miami in flight No. 2.
After dropping the first set 6-3, Robinson gained ground on Banada to take a 6-4 advantage in the second set and push the match to a decisive third set. After being deadlocked at 6-6, Banada then took the tie-break 7-5 to defeat Robinson, 7-6.
Vernon was able to fair better in her match, as she set down Farah in straight sets, 6-3, 6-3.
Newcomer Jessica Sweeting also took her contest in straight sets over UM's Caren Seenauth, 6-1, 6-4 in flight No. 3, while senior Gabriela Duch defeated Emily Mowery 6-3, 6-3 in the sixth.
The Hurricanes evened out play with Gina Sabatino setting down junior Liz Cruz, 7-5, 6-2 in the fourth flight and Claudia Wasilewski surpassing sophomore Iciri Rai 6-3, 6-0 after dropping the first set, 3-6 in the fifth.
Doubles action saw the Bulls claim two of three matches from No. 75 Auburn. Sweeting and Vernon remained perfect on the day, defeating the Tigers' Fani Chifchieva and Melissa Koning, 8-3 in flight #2. Rai and Cruz set down Whitney Chappell and Kelly Adams 9-8 (5) in the third flight. In flight No. 1, freshman Ann-Marie Modric and Duch narrowly fell to Alex Haney and Jil Hastenrath 9-8.
Action will continue Saturday and Sunday with the Bulls facing off against No. 35, FIU as well.
FIU Spring Invitational Day 1 Results:
Flight 1 No. 56 Audrey Banada (UM) def. No. 10 Shadisha Robinson (USF) 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (7-5)
Flight 2 No. 54 Courtney Vernon (USF) def. No. 53 Romy Farah (UM) 6-3, 6-3
Flight 3 Jessica Sweeting (USF) def. Caren Seenauth (UM) 6-1, 6-4
Flight 4 Gina Sabatino (UM) def. Liz Cruz (USF) 7-5, 6-2
Flight 5 Claudia Wasilewski (UM) def. Iciri Rai (USF) 3-6, 6-3, 6-0
Flight 6 Gabriela Duch (USF) def. Emily Mowery (UM) 6-3, 6-3
Doubles
Flight 1 Alex Haney/Jil Hastenrath (Auburn) def. Ann-Marie Modric/Gabriela Duch (USF) 9-8
Flight 2 Jessica Sweeting/Courtney Vernon (USF) def. Fani Chifchieva/Melissa Koning (AUB) 8-3
Flight 3 Iciri Rai/Liz Cruz (USF) def. Whitney Chappell/Kelly Adams (AUB) 9-8 (5)
