March 9, 2008

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ----- The UAB women's tennis team won the doubles point but then saw visiting Arkansas State sweep all six singles matches as the Lady Indians took a 6-1 victory Sunday at the Brook Highland Racquet Club.

The Blazers (6-1), ranked No. 57 in this week's FILA Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) rankings, were winners in two of three doubles matches as Antonia Nugent and Evelien Strijker downed ASU's Renee Branker and Emily Laing, 8-6, at the No. 1 position with Gulsah Esen and Giorgio Romeo taking a 9-8 decision at No. 2 over Arkansas State's duo of Paula Chelminska and Maria Oprea.

The No. 3 doubles match was also a tightly-contested match as ASU's Rone Van Wyk and Leydi Zora beat the Blazer tandem of Jenny Cape and Ceylan Engin, 8-6.

In winning all six singles matches, the Lady Indians (7-7) won four of those matches in straight sets. At No. 1 singles, Oprea defeated UAB's Strijker, 6-2, 7-5 while Chelminska was a 6-2, 6-4 winner at No. 2 over Antonia Nugent. Van Wyk took a 6-3, 6-0 decision over the Blazers' Nugent at No. 3 singles.

UAB freshman Cape extended ASU's Leydi Zora to three sets before falling by a 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 score. At No. 5 singles, Branker took care of the Blazers' Seden Soyalp, 6-4, 6-3. Arkansas State also won at the No. 6 position as Romeo rallied past UAB's Laing, 1-6, 6-2, 6-4.

"You have to give credit where credit is due," said UAB head coach Mert Ertunga. "Arkansas State was the better team today. They were mentally tougher and they played the important points better than we did. It doesn't change the fact that I was proud of our girls' effort. Now, we need to get ready to play again Monday."

UAB will be back in action Monday when the Blazers play host to Tennessee-Martin at Brook Highland at 1:00 p.m.

Arkansas State 6, UAB 1

Doubles

No. 1 - Antonia Nugent/Evelien Strijker (UAB) def. Renee Branker/Emily Laing (ASU) 8-6

No. 2 - Gulsah Esen/Giorgia Romeo (UAB) def. Paula Chelminska/Maria Oprea (ASU) 9-8

No. 3 - Rone Van Wyk/Leydi Zora (ASU) def. Jenny Cape/Ceylan Engin (UAB) 8-6

Singles

No. 1 - Oprea (ASU) def. Strijker (UAB) 6-2, 7-5

No. 2 - Chelminska (ASU) def. Esen (UAB) 6-2, 6-4

No. 3 - Van Wyk (ASU) def. Nugent (UAB) 6-3, 6-0

No. 4 - Zora (ASU) def. Cape (UAB) 6-4, 4-6, 6-3

No. 5 - Branker (ASU) def. Seden Soyalp (UAB) 6-4, 6-3

No. 6 - Laing (ASU) def. Romeo (UAB) 1-6, 6-2, 6-4

Records: UAB 6-1; Arkansas State 7-7