Southern Illinois University
Southeast Missouri State
Women's Tennis Splits Doubleheader with SEMO and ASU
03/27/2004 | 12:00:00 | Women's Tennis
March 27, 2004
By Josh Magill
www.SIUSalukis.com
CARBONDALE, Ill. - It was something Judy Auld hadn't really thought about until this season - her 30th - but now it seemed like such a burden for her and her tennis squad. The longtime Saluki women's tennis coach could earn her 400th victory this season.
"We finally got that monkey off our backs," Auld said. "It's nice to finally get that win, but now we can focus solely on the season."
SIU posted a 7-0 shutout against regional rival Southeast Missouri State to get Auld's 400th win, and afterwards presented her with a cake commemorating the accomplishment.
The Salukis grabbed the doubles point, which saw seniors Tana Trapani and Alejandra Blanco get their 36th team win as partnership on the court. Trapani also snagged her 52nd singles win over SEMO's Kelly Mitchell by a score of 6-0, 6-0.
The win evened SIU's record at 6-6, but that would change later in the afternoon when the Salukis met Arkansas State.
The Indians pushed SIU back to one match below .500 (6-7) with a 5-2 win over the Dawgs. Auld pointed out consistency on the court in the singles game as one reason for the loss.
"We have really learned how to play doubles this season, but our singles needs to improve some," Auld said. "That will come with experience and as we get further along in the season."
SIU swept the doubles point, but only mustered one singles win against Arkansas State. Trapani stepped up once again and defeated Liga Geme in a super tie-breaker, 3-6, 6-3 (10-5), after losing the first set.
The win for Trapani gave her the 53rd win of her career, which is just 13 shy of the top 20 leader board as SIU, as well as her 18th win of the year (fall and spring). She surpassed sophomore Zuzana Palovic, who has 17 wins this year, as the winningest Saluki for the 2003-04 season.
SIU will host Missouri Valley Conference opponent Evansville on Tuesday at the SIU University Courts. Action will begin at 3 p.m. Results can be found at www.SIUSalukis.com.
SIU 7, SEMO 0
DOUBLES:
No. 1 M.Blanco/Knitter (SIU) def. Anderson/Ehlke (SEMO) 8-2
No. 2 A.Blanco/Trapani (SIU) def. Ko.Hoebing/Mitchell (SEMO) 8-0
No. 3 Crothers/Stark (SIU) def. Kr.Hoebing/Prendergast (SEMO) 8-1
SINGLES:
No. 1 Alejandra Blanco (SIU) def. Kimmy Anderson (SEMO) 6-1, 6-0
No. 2 Maria Blanco (SIU) def. Kay Ehlke (SEMO) 6-1, 6-3
No. 3 Jessica Knitter (SIU) def. Kolby Hoebing (SEMO) 6-1, 6-0
No. 4 Tana Trapani (SIU) def. Kelly Mitchell (SEMO) 6-0, 6-0
No. 5 Kari Stark (SIU) def. Krista Hoebing (SEMO) 6-3, 6-1
No. 6 Natalie Crothers (SIU) def. Becke Prendergast 6-0, 6-2
Arkansas State 5, SIU 2
DOUBLES:
No. 1 M.Blanco/Knitter (SIU) def. Kleyhaas/Geme (ASU) 8-3
No. 2 A.Blanco/Trapani (SIU) def. Engelbrecht/Pogacnik (ASU) 8-4
No. 3 Honarmand/Palovic (SIU) def. Penon/Lucas (ASU) 8-3
SINGLES:
No. 1 Marina Engelbrecht (ASU) def. Alejandra Blanco (SIU) 7-5, 6-3
No. 2 Lucille Kleyhaas (ASU) def. Maria Blanco (SIU) 6-3, 6-3
No. 3 Marusa Pogacnik (ASU) def. Jessica Knitter (SIU) 6-0, 6-3
No. 4 Tana Trapani (SIU) def. Liga Geme (ASU) 3-6, 6-3, (10-5)
No. 5 Monica Penon (ASU) def. Zuzana Palovic (SIU) 6-3, 7-5
No. 6 Lica Lucas (ASU) def. Zoya Honarmand (SIU) 6-3, 6-3
