March 23, 2003

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. - Western Carolina's women's tennis team lost to East Tennessee State, 6-1, Sunday at the ETSU outdoor tennis complex. The loss gives WCU a 5-6 record overall and an 0-2 mark in the Southern Conference.

ETSU won the doubles point winning their first two matches. Jessica Irey and Gemma Halim defeated Western Carolina's Shannon Zalinski and Megan Bechtold, 8-2, at number one doubles. At the number two doubles position, the tandem of Sylwia Ziolkowska and Aimee Villavicencio defeated Western's Rocio Perez and Erin Johnson, 8-6, to win the point. Kristin Munn and Kristin Cotton recorded the lone doubles victory for the Cats, edging Jewel Aldea and Courtney McInnis, 8-4.

In singles play, Ziolkowska dropped Perez in straight sets, 6-2, 6-2, at the number one spot, while Halim defeated Bechtold, 6-4, 6-2, at number two singles. Irey defeated Kristin Munn, 7-5, 7-6 (4), at number three singles to ensure the Buccaneer victory. At the number four spot Aldea defeated Johnson, 6-2, 6-1. McInnis defeated Western's Kristin Cotton, 7-5, 7-6 (2) at number five singles. Western's lone point of the day came at number six singles, as Shannon Zalinski defeated Buccaneer junior, Tatiana Arriaran in a battle, 4-6, 6-4, 10-8.

The Catamounts return to action Wednesday, Mrach 26, to take on Wofford in Spartanburg, S.C., at 3:00 pm.

EAST TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY 6, WESTERN CAROLINA 1

Doubles
1. Halim/Irey (ETSU) def. Zalinksi/Bechtold (WCU) 8-2
2. Ziokowska/Villavicencio (ETSU) def. Perez/Johnson (WCU), 8-6
3. Munn/Cotton (WCU) def. Aldea/McInnis, 8-4

Singles
1. Sylwia Ziokowska (ETSU) def. Rocio Perez (WCU), 6-2, 6-2
2. Gemma Halim (ETSU) def. Megan Bechtold (WCU),6-4, 6-2
3. Jessica Irey (ETSU) def. Kristin Munn (WCU), 7-5, 7-6 (4)
4. Jewel Aldea (ETSU) def. Erin Johnson (WCU), 6-2, 6-1
5. Courtney McInnis (ETSU) def. Kristin Cotton (WCU), 7-5, 7-6 (2)
6. Shannon Zalinski (WCU) def. Tatiana Arriaran (ETSU), 4-6, 6-4, 10-8