Nov. 9, 2007

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - The Marshall women's tennis opened action at the Kitty Harrison Invitational Friday with play against top-ranked opponents at the Cone-Kenfield Tennis Center. The Thundering Herd played in a round robin against opponents from the Miami (Fla.) University, University of Virginia, University of Maryland, and William and Mary.

In the morning, Marshall faced both Miami and William and Mary in singles as well as against Virginia in doubles. Then in the afternoon, the Herd competed against Maryland in singles.

"We played a good top-10 national team from Miami," Marshall head coach John Mercer said. Miami has a nationally-ranked singles and doubles players competing.

In flight one doubles against Virginia, the Herd's sophomore Thaddea Lock (Bristol, England) and junior Karolina Soor (Lindesberg, Sweden) was defeated by the duo of Rales and Yahner, 8-1. In flight two, also against Virginia, Marshall's freshman Isabel Raich (Klaus, Austria) and senior Jeanne Schwartz (West Palm Beach, Fla.) defeated the pair of Alexander and Williams, 9-7.

Then the Herd faced Miami in singles with the No. 14 nationally-ranked opponent, Laura Vallverdu defeating Soor, 6-4, 6-1. In flight two, Romy Farah (Miami) defeated Raich, 6-1, 6-0 with also Lock being defeated by Caren Seenauth, 6-0, 6-1. In the final singles match against Miami, Bianca Eichkorn defeated Schwartz, 6-1, 6-2.

In flight five morning singles, William and Mary's Magdalena Bresson defeated the Herd's junior Jessica Keener (Reston, Va.), 6-3, 7-5. Then Lauren Sabacinski of William and Mary defeated sophomore Yulia Kashelkina (Moscow, Russia), 6-0, 6-1.

Marshall finished Friday play against ACC opponent, Maryland, with five out of six victory afternoon singles matches. Soor defeated Michal Amir, 6-4, 6-2 and Lock beat Karin Lundmark, 6-1, 6-2. Then Schwartz took the win against Lisa Miller, 6-3, 4-6, 10-4 and Keener defeated Oksana Krutiyenko, 6-4, 6-2. The Herd's final victory was Kashelkina's default victory over Maggie MacKeever. The lone Terrapins win over the Herd was Julia Huschke's defeat over Raich, 6-1, 6-4.

"It's always a good win against an ACC opponent," coach Mercer added.

Marshall will face Princeton and Kentucky in the morning and then compete against North Carolina Saturday afternoon. Action will continue on Saturday with doubles play beginning at 9 a.m. The invitational will conclude on Sunday at 9 a.m. at the Cone-Kenfield Tennis Center.

Flight One Morning Doubles Friday's Results
Rales/Yahner (UVa) def. Soor/Lock (Mar) - 8-1

Flight Two Morning Doubles Friday's Results
Raich/Swartz (Mar) def. Alexander/Williams (UVa) - 9-7

Flight One Singles Morning Friday's Results
#14 Vallverdu (Miami) def. Soor (Mar) - 6-4, 6-1

Flight Two Singles Morning Friday's Results
Farah (Miami) def. Raich (Mar) - 6-1, 6-0

Flight Three Singles Morning Friday's Results
Seenauth (Miami) def. Lock (Mar) - 6-0, 6-1

Flight Four Singles Morning Friday's Results
Eichkorn (Miami) def. Schwartz (Mar) - 6-1, 6-2

Flight Five Singles Morning Friday's Results
Bresson (W&M) def. Keener (Mar) - 6-3, 7-5

Flight Six Singles Morning Friday's Results
Sabacinski (W&M) def. Kashelkina (Mar) - 6-0, 6-1

Flight One Singles Afternoon Friday's Results
Soor (Mar) def. Amir (Maryland) - 6-4, 6-2

Flight Two Singles Afternoon Friday's Results
Huschke (Maryland) def. Raich (Mar) - 6-1, 6-4

Flight Three Singles Afternoon Friday's Results
Lock (Mar) def. Lundmark (Maryland) - 6-1, 6-2

Flight Four Singles Afternoon Friday's Results
Schwartz (Mar) def. Miller (Maryland) - 6-3, 4-6, 10-4

Flight Five Singles Afternoon Friday's Results
Keener (Mar) def. Krutiyenko (Maryland) - 6-4, 6-2

Flight Six Singles Afternoon Friday's Results
Kashelkina (Mar) def. MacKeever (Maryland) - 5-4, Default