Southern Illinois University
South Carolina State
South Carolina State shuts down Women's Tennis
03/16/2011 | 12:00:00 | Women's Tennis
March 16, 2011
By Dana Ingraham
SIUSalukis.com
HILTON HEAD, S.C. - The Southern Illinois women's tennis team struggled to find its rhythm Wednesday as South Carolina State dealt the Salukis a 7-0 shutout.
Southern has dropped three-straight and four out of its last five matches, still searching for a comfortable transition into the outdoor game.
"We found some good competition down here in South Carolina," commented head coach Audra Nothwehr. "We are still looking for our confidence. We have been competitive, but we need to improve our mental toughness in order to break through and win some of these matches."
The Salukis put up a fight and stayed in contention for the doubles point, as Melanie Delsart and Jennifer Dien traded points with SCSU's Maria Craciun and Daria Sekerina to extend the first doubles match before eventually falling, 9-7.
Anastacia Simons and Korey Love dropped their contest at the second spot, 8-6.
In singles play, Southern Illinois was knocked off its feet in straight sets in all but one position. At No. 2, Anita Lee captured the second stanza to extend her match to three sets, but could not hang on against Suhaila Jad of CSU, losing 6-4, 4-6, (10-6).
"It's disappointing, but when you lose, you always have to take something away from your match," Nothwehr said. "That's what my hope is for the team, to learn from this experience so that we can come back and start conference play ready to go."
The Salukis will look to break their three-match skid Friday, when they dive into a doubleheader against Georgia Southern and George Mason. First serves are set for noon and 6:30 CT.
South Carolina State 7, Southern Illinois 0
March 16, 2011
Hilton Head, S.C.
Singles Competition
1. Daria Sekerina (SCSU) def. Melanie Delsart (SIU) 6-4, 6-4
2. Suhaila Jad (SCSU) def. Anita Lee (SIU) 6-4, 4-6, (10-6)
3. Akilah James (SCSU) def. Jennifer Dien (SIU) 6-4, 6-0
4. Maria Craciun (SCSU) def. Korey Love (SIU) 6-1, 6-2
5. Sabrina Mendez (SCSU) def. Anastacia Simons (SIU) 6-3, 6-2
6. Laura Bosneag (SCSU) def. SIU, forfeit
Doubles Competition
1. Craciun/Sekerina (SCSU) def. Delsart/Dien (SIU) 9-7
2. Jad/Mendez (SCSU) def. Simons/Love (SIU) 8-6
3. James/Bosneag (SCSU) def. SIU, forfeit
Players Mentioned
