Golden Eagles Win Third Straight; Defeat Syracuse, 5-2

Feb. 24, 2008

MILWAUKEE - The Marquette women's tennis team won its third straight match Sunday afternoon defeating Syracuse, 5-2, in the Golden Eagles' conference opener at Helfaer Tennis Stadium. With the win, the Golden Eagles improve to 4-7 overall on the season.

"This is a great win for us and I am so proud of our team and their effort today," said head coach Jody Bronson. "Our doubles really elevated their play and it carried over to singles."

Marquette got things started by sweeping the doubles point. Sophomores Elly Strother and Maggie Wilson teamed up for the first time this season and shut out Chelsea Jones and Christina Tan at No. 3, 8-0. The No. 2 tandem of Rachael Hush and senior Shannon Brown got their first win of the season and took a 8-1 decision over Maria Vasilyeva and Jacquelynn Tang.

The Golden Eagles finished the sweep of the doubles point at No. 1 when senior Maria Calbeto and freshman Christina Ruiz pulled out an 8-6 win over Ashley Spicer and Simone Kalhorn. The win was the twosome's fourth straight at No. 1.

Syracuse evened the score, 1-1, and got the first singles win at No. 4 when Vasilyeva took down junior Robin Metzler 6-0, 6-1.

Marquette's top of the lineup rallied and knocked out three consecutive victories to win the match. Hush put Marquette ahead 2-1 with a quick win at No. 3 singles as she took care of Spicer, 6-2, 6-0. Ruiz followed with a 6-0, 6-3 win at No. 2 over Kalhorn to help Marquette go ahead 3-1.

Calbeto won her third consecutive match at No. 1 singles and secured the win for the Golden Eagles as she fought to a 6-4, 6-4 win over Tan.

"Our players stepped up and played with so much fight today. Christina and Rachael played really well and Beba just continues to find ways to win," said Bronson.

Wilson got the Golden Eagles' fifth point of the day after overcoming a 6-4 first-set loss. She rallied winning the final two sets, 6-4, 6-3.

"Maggie saw little playing time last year and really improved her game coming into this season. She is one of our most improved player," added Bronson.

The Golden Eagles will continue its homestand on Saturday, March 1, when they host a double head with BIG EAST conference foe Rutgers and Green Bay beginning at 11 a.m.

"We are really looking forward to playing Rutgers and carrying this momentum that we have to next weekend."

Marquette 5, Syracuse 2
Singles competition:
1. Calbeto, Maria (MARQ) def. Tan, Christina (SYR) 6-4, 6-4
2. Ruiz, Christina (MARQ) def. Kalhorn, Simone (SYR) 6-0, 6-3
3. Hush, Rachael (MARQ) def. Spicer, Ashley (SYR) 6-2, 6-0
4. Vasilyeva, Maria (SYR) def. Metzler, Robin (MARQ) 6-0, 6-1
5. Jones, Chelsea (SYR) def. Brown, Shannon (MARQ) 7-6, 1-6, (10-7)
6. Wilson, Maggie (MARQ) def. Tang, Jacquelynn (SYR) 4-6, 6-4, 6-3

Doubles competition:
1. Calbeto, Maria/Ruiz, Christina (MARQ) def. Spicer, Ashley/Kalhorn, Simone (SYR) 8-6
2. Hush, Rachael/Brown, Shannon (MARQ) def. Vasilyeva, Maria/Tang, Jacquelynn (SYR) 8-1
3. Wilson, Maggie/Strother, Elly (MARQ) def. Jones, Chelsea/Tan, Christina (SYR) 8-0

Match Notes:
Syracuse 6-6, 4-2
Marquette 4-7, 1-0
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2,1); Singles (4,3,2,1,5,6)