TAMPA, Fla. (March 18, 2007) ? In its first match back from a tough west coast road trip, the No. 39 University of South Florida women's tennis team suffered a 4-2 defeat at the hands of the No. 61 Lady Tigers of Auburn. The loss is the Bulls first of the year at home and also the first points they have surrendered at the USF Varsity Tennis Courts.
The Bulls (8-5) were only able to gain points in singles play as Liz Cruz and Iciri Rai won their matches in straight sets at the fourth and sixth positions, respectively. The pair also combined for USF's only doubles match victory, upending Auburn's Jil Hastenrath and Kelly Adams 8-3 on court three.
The No. 26 team of Gabriela Duch and Shadisha Robinson suffered yet another defeat, as Melissa Koning and Alex Haney handled them 8-6 at the first position. Courtney Vernon and partner Jessica Sweeting fell 8-1 at No. 2 to Fani Chifchieva and Whitney Chappell.
Singles play also was unkind to USF's ranked players.
The No. 39 ranked Chifchieva upset No. 18 Robinson, 6-1, 7-5 on court one. No. 71 Vernon lost two extended sets to AU's Melissa Koning in the second spot.
Auburn's win ends the Bulls six-match home streak of holding opponents scoreless. The loss is also the team's first of the season on its home courts.
The Bulls will try and defend home turf once again, on Wed., Mar 21 against the No. 6 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. Georgia Tech, ranked No. 1 earlier in the season, will come in with a record of 10-4 and boasts six ranked singles players. Match time is set for 2 p.m.
No. 61 Auburn 4 No. 39 USF 2
Doubles
1) Koning/Haney (AUB) def. Robinson/Duch (USF) 8-6
2) Chifchieva/Chappell (AUB) def. Sweeting/Vernon 8-1
3) Cruz/Rai (USF) def. Hastenrath/Adams (AUB) 8-3
Singles
1) (39) Fani Chifchieva (AUB) def. (18) Shadisha Robinson (USF) 6-1, 7-5
2) Melissa Koning (AUB) def. (71) Courtney Vernon (USF) 7-5, 7-5
3) Alex Haney (AUB) def. Jessica Sweeting (USF) 4-6, 6-2, 6-4
4) Liz Cruz (USF) def. Jil Hastenrath (AUB) 6-2, 6-2
5) Whitney Chappell (AUB) led Gabriela Duch (USF) 4-6, 7-6(4), 3-1 (unfinished)
6) Iciri Rai (USF) def. Kelly Adams (AUB) 6-2, 6-4
USF: 8-5 Auburn: 8-4
