Feb. 15, 2005

Cullowhee, N.C. - The Western Carolina women's tennis team dropped its first two matches of the spring schedule last weekend, falling at Charleston Southern 5-2 on Saturday and suffering a shutout, 7-0, in Orangeburg, S.C., versus South Carolina State on Sunday.

Senior Kristin Ikard led the way for the Cats, defeating the Buccaneers' Patricia Jeager, 6-4, 6-1 as the third-seed in singles rotation. She teamed with freshman Ashley Harris as the two-seed in doubles, taking their opponent to the wire before falling, 9-8. Harris recorded Western's only other singles victory on the day, defeating Nazli Kutuk, 6-4, 6-0.

Singles fifth-seed, freshman Susanna Sjokvist, dropped her first set, 6-4, before winning the second by the same score, forcing a third and final set. She fought hard before bowing out, 12-10.

On Sunday, Western was shutout by the Bulldogs of South Carolina State, 7-0. The Catamounts top-seed in singles competition, freshman Trish Hanson, fell behind early, dropping the first set 6-1. She rallied to take the second, 6-4, and force the deciding third set, which she dropped 10-5. Hanson teamed with junior Katherine Ptak to secure Western's lone victory in Orangeburg, defeating the SCSU doubles team of Milana Boriseu and Gisel Brito 8-4 in the number one doubles match.

Western returns to action this Thursday, February 17 as it travels over the mountain to battle instate rival, UNC Asheville at 3:00 pm. The Catamounts will look to make it three-in-a-row over the Bulldogs, winning last year 5-2 in Cullowhee, and edging out UNCA 4-3 in 2001-02 on the road. WCU's first home match is scheduled for Saturday, February 19 in Cullowhee with a start time of 1:30 pm.

Western Carolina at Charleston Southern

Saturday, February 12, 2005

Singles

Meryam Tazi d. Trish Hanson (6-2, 6-2)
Bec Franzi d. Katherine Ptak (6-0, 6-1)
Kristin Ikard d. Patrica Jeager (6-4, 6-1)
Ashley Harris d. Nazli Kutuk (6-4, 6-0)
Jessica Bear d. Susanna Sjokvist (6-4, 4-6, 12-10)
Ashley Heard d. April Yount (6-2, 6-0)

Doubles
Tazi/Franzi d. Hanson/Ptak (8-1)
Kutuk/Jaeger d. Ikard/Harris (9-8 (11-9))
Heard/Bear d. Yount/Sjokvist (9-8)


Western Carolina at South Carolina State

Sunday, February 13, 2005

Singles
Vesna Popac d. Trish Hanson (6-1, 4-6, 10-5)
Marcela Rodezno d. Katherine Ptak (6-1, 6-1)
Mirian Cruz d. Kristin Ikard (6-1, 6-0)
Milana Boriseu d. Ashley Harris (6-0, 6-1)
Gisel Brito d. Susanna Sjokvist (6-1, 6-1)
Alexis Panton d. April Yount (6-0, 6-0)

Doubles
Hanson/Ptak d. Boriseu/Brito (8-4)
Rodezno/Cruz d. Ikard/Harris (9-8 (11-9))
Popac/Panton d. Yount/Sjokvist (8-2)