March 2, 2003

Cullowhee, N.C. - The Western Carolina women's tennis team was edged out by Mercer Sunday afternoon, in a tight 4-3 match. The loss brings Western to 1-3 for the season.

After Kristin Cotton and Kristin Munn took care of Hannah Carter and Nicole Porterfield, 8-1, in their doubles match, it was the number one and two seeds to finish out the point. Mercer, however, rallied to win the point with Lia Fabiano and Teresina Pazsoldan defeating Shannon Zalinski and Erin Johnson, 9-7, and Jessica O'Steen and Emma Pettersson edging out Katie VanEwyk and Megan Bechtold in the tie breaker, 9-8 (1).

In singles action, the Cats and Bears split, three wins apiece. Munn and VanEwyk downed their opponents in straight sets, while Cotton faced Porterfield in a close match. After splitting the first two sets, the two elected to play a 10-point tie breaker, which Cotton won, 10-4.

The Lady Catamounts continue their home stand against West Virginia Saturday, March 8, at 1:00 pm.

Doubles
Fabiano/Pazsoldan (MER) def. Johnson/Zalinski (WCU); 9-7
O'Steen/Pettersson (MER) def. Bechtold/VanEwyk (WCU); 9-8 (1)
Munn/Cotton (WCU) def. Carter/Porterfield (MER); 8-1

Singles
Lia Fabiano (MER) def. Megan Bechtold (WCU); 6-4, 6-0
Kristin Munn (WCU) def. Emma Pettersson (MER); 6-4, 6-1
Teresina Pazsoldan (MER) def. Rocio Perez (WCU); 6-1, 6-2
Jessica O'Steen (MER) def. Erin Johnson (WCU); 7-6 (7), 6-1
Kristin Cotton (WCU) def. Nicole Porterfield (MER); 6-3, 5-7, (10-4)
Katie VanEwyk (WCU) def. Hannah Carter (MER); 6-3, 6-3