Women's Tennis Eases by SEC Foe Louisiana State, 7-0 3/28/03

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - On a warm, but windy day in Nashville, the 13th-ranked Vanderbilt women's tennis team defeated 47th-ranked Louisiana State, 7-0, at the Brownlee O. Currey Tennis Center. While the team score was lopsided, the visiting Lady Tigers put up a strong fight against the Commodores. With the win, Vanderbilt improves to 14-3 overall and 5-2 in the Southeastern Conference, while LSU falls to 8-9 overall and 1-6 in the conference.

Vanderbilt jumped out to an early 1-0 advantage after winning the doubles point, but there was a major upset in one of the matches. LSU's top team of Rocio Fantilli and Lauren Seaman stunned the nation's top-ranked team of senior Sarah Riske and junior Aleke Tsoubanos, 8-4. Fantilli and Seaman got an early break in the match and never looked back.

The 26th-ranked team of junior Kelly Schmandt and sophomore Audra Falk continued their hot play as of late at the No. 2 position, as they cruised by Amanda Mang and Jessica Ferguson, 8-3. Schmandt and Falk are now 16-5 overall as a doubles team. Sophomore Annie Menees and freshman Ashley Schellhas clinched the doubles point for the 'Dores at the third position, as they defeated Camila Caliari and Daysi Espinal, 8-5.

Vanderbilt has now won the doubles point in 14 of its 17 matches.

At No. 1 singles, Riske has one of the more exciting matches of the afternoon as she battled with Fantilli. Vanderbilt's only senior was able to claw her way to a 7-5, 7-5 win over the Lady Tigers' top player. With the win, Riske improves to 19-6 on the season and 14-3 in dual matches.

At No. 2 singles, Schmandt was able to pull out a straight-set win over Ferguson, 6-4, 6-2. The Santa Barbara, Calif. native has compiled a solid 13-2 dual-match record while competing at both the No. 2 and No. 3 spots.

At No. 3 singles, Tsoubanos was able to avenge her loss in doubles, as she defeated Marina Chiarelli in two tight sets, 7-5, 6-4. Tsoubanos improves to 14-3 in dual-match competition.

At No. 4 singles, Falk held off a late second-set charge by Espinal to win, 6-0, 7-5, which clinched the match for Vanderbilt. Falk continues to be one of Vanderbilt's most consistent players, as she has amassed a 19-3 record in 2002-03. Menees kept things rolling for the 'Dores, as she cruised by Caliari, 6-2, 6-2, at the No. 5 spot. At the sixth position, junior Kori Scott had no problems against Seaman, as she won in straight sets, 6-3, 6-2.

The Commodores return to action at 12 p.m. Sunday against the Lady Razorbacks or Arkansas at the Currey Tennis Center. Sunday's match will be the final regular-season home matches for Sarah Riske and Kori Scott.

Singles

Doubles