March 8, 2011

CHARLESTON, S.C.-The University of Memphis women's tennis team beat Wofford College on Tuesday afternoon in a 6-1 decision to extend its win streak to three. The Lady Tigers improve to 7-6 overall with the victory.

Andrea Arques-Garcia and Stefanie Mikesz swept Terrior tandem Emilia Milovanovic and Samantha Sullivan 8-0 at No. 3 doubles to kick of the contest and Kathleen Hawkins and Mariya Slupska pulled out the 8-6 defeat at the second slot to take the doubles point.

Memphis came close to running the tables in singles, taking five of six flights from the Terriers (8-5), slipping only at No. 5 where Garcia forced a third set before falling 6-1, 4-6, 6-0.

Memphis opened conference play earlier in the day with 5-2 downing of East Carolina in a neutral site event. ECU (10-3, 0-1 C-USA) entered the match on a five-match winning streak, but Memphis netters came ready to play and jumped out to a 2-0 lead before the Lady Pirates would tally their first point.

Courtney Collins and Kelly Gray took down Jessica Cook and Audrey LePottier 8-4 at the top slot, while Garcia and Mikesz defeated Manon Bissat/Neena Wanko 8-5 at the third flight to capture the doubles point. Doubles wrapped up when ECU duo Natalie Collins and Petra Vogel won at the No. 2 slot over Hawkins and Slupska 8-6.

Top-seeded Collins, ranked 114th nationally, would finish first in singles play, with a 6-2, 6-0 victory over Jessica Cook. The Lady Tigers' lead shrunk to 2-1 when Gray dropped her match at No. 4 to Audrey LePottier 6-0, 6-2.

Slupska moved Memphis to 3-1 with her 6-2, 6-2 win at No. 2 singles over Petra Vogel and Mikesz secured the squad's victory with a 7-5, 6-1 win at the No. 3 position over Natalie Collins.

Memphis will return to the Bluff City to face Detroit Mercy at 9:30 a.m., followed by Illinois State at 2 p.m., on Saturday, March 11 at The Racquet Club of Memphis. Admission to all matches is free.

MEMPHIS 6, WOFFORD 1
Singles
1. Courtney Collins (MEM) def. Emilia Milovanovic (WOF) 3-6, 6-4, 10-5
2. Mariya Slupska (MEM) def. Guinn Garcia (WOF) 6-2, 6-1
3. Stefanie Mikesz (MEM) def. Haley Baird (WOF) 6-0, 7-6 (7-5)
4. Kelly Gray (MEM) def. Sarah Evans (WOF) 6-2, 6-1
5. Julia Paulson (WOF) def. Andrea Arques-Garcia (MEM) 6-1, 4-6, 6-0
6. Kathleen Hawkins (MEM) def. Stephanie Cox (WOF) 6-1, 6-0
Doubles
1. Haley Baird/Guinn Garcia (WOF) def. Courtney Collins/Kelly Gray (MEM) 8-6
2. Kathleen Hawkins/Mariya Slupska (MEM) def. Sarah Evans/Julia Paulson (WOF) 8-6
3. Andrea Arques-Garcia/Stefanie Mikesz (MEM) def. Emilia Milovanovic/Samantha Sullivan (WOF) 8-0
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1,2) Singles (6,2,4,5,3,1)

MEMPHIS 5, EAST CAROLINA 2
Singles
1. #114 Courtney Collins (MEM) def. Jessica Cook (ECU) 6-2, 6-0
2. Mariya Slupska (MEM) def. Petra Vogel (ECU) 6-2, 6-2
3. Stefanie Mikesz (MEM) def. Natalie Collins (ECU) 7-5, 6-1
4. Audrey LePottier (ECU) def. Kelly Gray (MEM) 6-0, 6-2
5. Neena Wanko (ECU) def. Kathleen Hawkins (MEM) 6-2, 6-2
6. Andrea Arques-Garcia (MEM) def. Manon Bissat (ECU) 6-3, 6-2
Doubles
1. Courtney Collins/Kelly Gray (MEM) def. Jessica Cook/Audrey LePottier (ECU) 8-4
2. Natalie Collins/Petra Vogel (ECU) def. Kathleen Hawkins/Mariya Slupska (MEM) 8-6
3. Andrea Arques-Garcia/Stefanie Mikesz (MEM) def. Manon Bissat/Neena Wanko (ECU) 8-5
OF: Doubles (1,3,2) Singles (1,4,2,5,3,6)