Tuesday, 04/27/2010

EAST LANSING, Mich. - The No. 43 Indiana University women's tennis team (15-7, 5-4) picked up a 5-2 road win on Saturday, topping the Michigan State Spartans (7-15, 1-8). Head Coach Lin Loring continued his career unbeaten streak against the Spartans, never suffering a defeat to MSU in 33 years at the helm of the IU program.

"It was a cold, windy day and the tennis was ugly," said Coach Loring. "I thought Michigan State competed very well early in both singles and doubles. I don't think we were ready for that and it took us awhile to get going. I'll give us credit for finding a way to win, but it wasn't pretty."

Indiana won two of three doubles matches for the doubles point before taking four of the singles battles. Maria Guerreiro paired with Leslie Hureau to earn one of the doubles triumphs, an 8-6 besting of Whitney Wilson and Renata da Paiva in the No. 2 doubles match. Charlotte Martin and Katya Zapadalova mimicked their teammates, also tabbing an 8-6 winner in their match at third doubles.

The Hoosiers increased their lead to 3-1 following the conclusion of straight set matches. Hureau and Martin each blitzed their competition in two sets to put IU within one more singles win to take the match.

Evgeniya Vertesheva and Lindsey Stuckey each dropped their opening set, however, and had to climb out of early holes if they were to clinch the team victory. They both did just that, forcing third sets and giving the Hoosiers points number four and five to secure the victory.
 
"Once Evgeniya, Lindsey and Myriam got their matches into three sets, the whole momentum changed," said Coach Loring. "At that point we were up 3-1 and only needed to win one more match. That put all the pressure back on the three Michigan State players."
Indiana is back at it Sunday with the regular season finale, taking on Michigan at 11 a.m.

COMPLETE RESULTS
DOUBLES
Silesova/Ivanova def. Lindsey Stuckey/Evgeniya Vertesheva: 8-5
Maria Guerreiro/Leslie Hureau def. Whitney Wilson/Renata de Paiva: 8-6
Charlotte Martin/Katya Zapadalova def. Manon Noe/Christine Milliken: 8-6

SINGLES
Evgeniya Vertesheva def. Michaela Silesova: 1-6, 6-3, 6-1
Leslie Hureau def. Whitney Wilson: 6-2, 6-1
Elena Ivanova def. Katya Zapadolova: 6-4, 6-3
Lindsey Stuckey def. Amy Barton: 4-6, 7-6(5), 4-3
Renata de Paiva def. Myriam Sopel: 6-4, 4-6, 1-0
Charlotte Martin def. Christine Milliken: 6-3, 6-2