Feb. 8, 2008

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - - The University of Memphis women's tennis team (1-2) battled, but fell just short in a 4-3 loss to Southern Illinois, Friday.

"We came out kind of flat in doubles," Head Coach Lee Taylor Walker said, "but every player who was out there struggling in doubles really stepped it up in singles. Every one was on battling in their singles matches and we were up in five of the six matches. We are just working with the team to help them understand that the time has come when they can expect themselves to win. We were right there, we just have to expect to win and we'll win a lot of matches this year."

Memphis found out before the match that the Lady Tigers would be without sophomore Amanda Brown due to illness. With Brown out, the entire line-up was moved up one notch as Brown as played No. 1 singles and No. 1 doubles in each of Memphis' first two non-conference matches.

Kristin Chamberlain stepped in to play No. 1 singles, falling 6-4, 6-4 to Sabine Tsala Mvilongo. The Lady Tigers roared back with wins at No. 2 and 3 singles, as Ashley Murdock won her match at No. 2, 6-2, 6-4, over Martina Vianna Ce, while Marjorie Ondeck won her match at No. 3 singles, 6-3, 6-4 over Michela Cruise. SIU won the match at No. 5 singles, with Amanda Taillefer defeating Dara Toulch, 6-2, 7-5, but Memphis answered back with a win at No. 6 from Ekin Zafir, 6-2, 6-3.

With the score knotted at 3-3 after SIU used wins at NO. 1 and 3 doubles to take the first point of the match, the team result came down to the No. 4 singles match. Andrea Courtney defeated Lindsey Wiseman in three sets, 2-6, 6-3, 6-2 to help SIU secure the win and improve to 3-0 on the season.

Memphis will remain at home with a 3 p.m. match Saturday against Samford. That match will also be played at WellWorx in Memphis.

Southern Illinois 4, Memphis 3
Doubles
No. 1 - Sabine Tsala Mvilongo/Jessica Flannery def. Dara Toulch/Ekin Zafir (UM), 8-2
No. 2 - Ashley Murdock/Marjorie Ondeck (UM) def. Michela Cruise/Martina Vianna Ce, 8-6
No. 3 - Amanda Taillefer/Andrea Courtney def. Kristin Chamberlain/Lindsey Wiseman (UM), 8-4
Singles
No. 1 - Sabine Tsala Mvilong def. Kristin Chamberlain (UM), 6-4, 6-4
No. 2 - Ashley Murdock (UM) def. Martina Vianna Ce, 6-2, 6-4
No. 3 - Marjorie Ondeck (UM) def. Michela Cruise, 6-3, 6-4
No. 4 - Andrea Courtney def. Lindsey Wiseman (UM), 2-6, 6-3, 6-2
No. 5 - Amanda Taillefer def. Dara Toulch (UM), 6-2, 7-5
No. 6 - Ekin Zafir (UM) def. Jessica Flannery, 6-2, 6-3