Feb. 14, 2004

The University of Memphis women's tennis team used come backs to pick up key wins in a 5-1 non-conference win over Tennessee Tech, Saturday, at the HPER Courts.

"I've never seen a bunch of players who fight like this team does," Head Coach Charlotte Peterson said.

The match began with singles matches. Since it had gotten cold, both coaches opted to play singles and hold off on the doubles. And the Lady Tigers came out and struggled early in the top three singles matches, but rallied back to sweep all three top spots in three sets.

Senior Marlene Dirnstorfer dropped her opening set against Marina Tasheva, 6-0, but rallied back to win the second and third sets, 6-2, 7-6 (1). "Marlene lost that first set and I just told her to relax and have fun," Peterson said. "She just kind of smiled and before I knew it, she had won the second set."

Senior teammate Viktoria Gruber experienced a similar battle against Alet Boonzaaier at No. 2 singles. Gruber won her opening set, 6-4, but then fell 6-4 in the second set. But the senior found herself 3-0 down in the third before Peterson told her that "she could do better and to hit the ball harder." The result was not only rallying back from 3-0 down, but winning 7-5.

Sophomore Andrea Feichtinger dropped her opening set, 6-4, to Margot Carter, at No. 3 singles, but rallied back to win a second set tiebreaker 7-6 (6), and closed out the match with a 6-1 third set.

Freshman Yesica Ares improved her singles mark since joining the team a month ago, downing Melisa Cansado, 6-3, 6-3, at No. 4 singles, while fellow freshman Christina Wieser won her No. 6 singles match, 6-0, 6-4.

Tennessee Tech picked up its only point of the match at No. 5 singles where Maja Russinova downed Kristin Noble, 6-4, 6-1.