Marquette University Athletics
Women's Tennis Heads to No. 50 Louisville
3/7/2008 12:00:00āÆAM | Women's Tennis
March 7, 2008
MILWAUKEE - The Marquette University women's tennis squad will travel to No. 50 Louisville for a BIG EAST Conference match Saturday at 11 a.m. ET at the Bass-Rudd Tennis Center. MU carries a five game winning streak into the match, claiming victories over Northern Iowa, UW-Milwaukee, Syracuse, Rutgers, and UW-Green Bay.
UofL (7-4, 2-1 BIG EAST) is led by lone senior Robyn White, who finished last season 10-13 in dual match singles play, including a victory at the No. 1 singles position over Marquette. In her collegiate career, White boasts an overall 69-29 doubles record to go with her 55-24 career dual singles record. Junior Natalia Baez won the Rice Invitational D Flight singles tournament in the fall, and was third at the University of Tennessee's fall tournament. Against No. 45 Ohio State, Baez paired up with junior Bianca Gorbea to hold their own against the Buckeye's No. 1 doubles team, eventually bowing 8-6. Since last season's 12-13 campaign (4-2 BIG EAST), the Cardinals and first-year head coach Mark Beckham lost only one starter, and return five.
The No. 50 Cardinals went 1-1 last week with a 6-1 loss to then-No. 45 Ohio State on Feb.27 and a 5-2 win over Indiana State on Feb. 29. Gorbea recorded the only point against the Buckeyes with a 7-6, (7-2), 5-7, 1-0 (10-5) victory at the No. 3 slot. UofL jumped out to an early lead over Indiana State with victories at the No. 2 and No. 3 doubles positions. The squad then won the Nos. 2-5 singles slots for the victory.
For the Golden Eagles, freshman Rachael Hush holds one of the team's three winning singles records, at 10-9 (6-2 dual). Both senior Maria Calbeto and freshman Christina Ruiz enter the Louisville match with four-match winning streaks on the line. Calbeto and Ruiz have teamed up in doubles action to hold a 5-3 record (1-0 BIG EAST) at the team's No. 1 and No. 2 spots.
Over the last five matches, Marquette has won 30 match points and dropped only five, including a lone doubles match point. Against Rutgers Saturday, the Golden Eagles dropped the doubles match, with the No. 3 team of sophomore Maggie Wilson and senior Shannon Brown coming out victorious. Entering the singles portion down 0-1, MU swept the Scarlet Knights, with Calbeto, Ruiz, Hush, Robin Metzler, and Wilson all earning wins. In dual match action against UW-Green Bay, MU did not drop a set against the Phoenix. Sophomore Elly Strother held UW-Green Bay's Kari Petrashek scoreless in the No. 6 singles position. Strother and Brown teamed up to post a goose egg against UW-Green Bay's No. 3 doubles position.
Players Mentioned
