March 11, 2005

Cullowhee, N.C. - Battling blustery conditions and snow showers which halted play for over an hour and eventually suspended play in a pair of matches, the Western Carolina women's tennis team fell to visiting Coastal Carolina, 5-0, Friday afternoon in non-conference action.

Western (3-5) began play in doubles competition, with the team of senior Kristin Cotton and freshman Ashley Harris tying the Chanticleers' tandem of Petra Jantti and Sofie Ahlberg 8-8, forcing a deciding set, falling 7-5.

After winning the double's point, Coastal earned victories in the first two flights, as well as the fourth and sixth seedings to earn the victory. Freshman Tricia Hanson, playing in Western's number one singles position, fell 6-1, 6-2, while second-seeded junior Katherine Ptak fell 6-2, 6-2. Freshman Ashley Harris, who had improved her singles record in the third flight to 5-2 on the young season, fell to CCU's Sarize Coetzee, 6-0, 6-1, while junior April Yount fell in straight sets, 6-0, 6-0.

With temperatures dropping as the sun began setting, and the victor determined, the coaches from both Western and Coastal suspended play in the final two singles matches which were still being contested. Cotton's match-up with Jantti was ended tied at 5-apiece, while freshman Susanna Sjokvist's bout with fellow-Swede Sofie Ahlberg was ended with Sjokvist trailing 6-1, 5-0.

Western Carolina is scheduled to host UNC Greensboro in the Catamounts' Southern Conference opener on Saturday afternoon at Noon at the Courts at Reid Gym. With wintery weather expected to linger throughout the weekend, fans are encouraged to check www.catamountsports.com for the latest on any schedule changes.

Coastal Carolina 5, Western Carolina 0

Doubles:
1. Matrka/Dinh (CCU) d. Hanson/Ptak (WCU), 8-1
2. Jantti/Ahlberg (CCU) d. Cotton/Harris (WCU), 8-8 (7-5)
3. Coetzee/Younger (CCU) d. Yount/Sjokvist (WCU), 8-0

Singles:
1. Marie Matrka (CCU) d. Tricia Hanson (WCU), 6-1, 6-2
2. Virginie Dinh (CCU) d. Katherine Ptak (WCU), 6-2, 6-2
3. Kristin Cotton (WCU) vs. Petra Jantti - did not finish (5-5)
4. Sarize Coetzee (CCU) d. Ashley Harris (WCU), 6-0, 6-1
5. Sofie Ahlberg (CCU) vs. Susanna Sjokvist (WCU) - did not finish (6-1, 5-0)
6. Nicole Lemmerer (CCU) d. April Yount (WCU), 6-0, 6-0

Records:
Western Carolina - 3-5 overall
Coastal Carolina - 8-4 overall