GOLDEN SUNS PICK UP TWO ROAD WINS IN MEMPHIS; EARNS
FIRST-EVER GSC TOURNAMENT BERTH IN THE PROCESS

        RUSSELLVILLE, Arkansas – Arkansas Tech Golden Suns Tennis closed out the road portion of its 2007-08 schedule here Thursday by posting wins over LeMoyne-Owen College and Christian Brothers.

Tech opened the day by posting a 5-0 win over LeMoyne-Owen College at the Bellevue Tennis Complex and then the Golden Suns posted a 5-0 Gulf South Conference win over Christian Brothers at the TPC Southwind to close out the day.

With the two wins, Tech improves to 11-7 overall and 7-5 in the South Region, while the CBU win pushed Tech to 3-2 in the GSC and helped Tech clinch its first-ever berth in the GSC Tournament, which begins next weekend in Montgomery, Ala.

“I am really proud of these young ladies for all they accomplished this season,” Golden Suns Head Coach Abby Davis said. “We were able to earn a berth in the GSC Tournament and also we’ll finish the season with a winning record for the first time since 2003.”

In the match against LeMoyne-Owen, Tech posted 8-0 wins at No. 1 and No. 2 doubles and then won at No. 3 doubles by default, as the Lady Magicians had only four players available. None of the singles matches were played, though, as Tech won at Nos. 5 and 6 by default to earn the match.

Against CBU, Tech opened by posting victories in all three doubles matches, including winning at No. 1 and No. 3 by identical 8-0 scores. In singles play, Tech sealed the win with wins by junior Kristen Burgess (Winona, Texas) at No. 5 and senior Whitney Simmons (Pottsville, Ark.) at No. 6, before stopping the match due to blustery conditions.

Tech will close out the regular season on Sunday when they host Henderson State in a 2 p.m. GSC match at the Chartwells Women’s Sports Complex. Sunday’s match will mark the final home contest for Tech’s three seniors – Renee Malcuit (Lakeside, Calif.), Puja Paul (Kolkata, West Bengal India) and Whitney Simmons (Pottsville, Ark.).

Results

Tech 5, LeMoyne Owen 0

Singles

No 1. – Anna Carson (Tech) vs. Cherish Banks (LOC), DNP

No. 2 – Saki Matsuoka (Tech) vs. Chanell Davis (LOC), DNP

No. 3 – Kristen Brown (Tech) vs. Jessica Mitchem (LOC), DNP

No. 4 – Puja Paul (Tech) vs. Shadonna Tate (LOC), DNP

No. 5 – Michelle Yu (Tech) won by Default

No. 6 – Whitney Simmons (Tech) won by Default

Doubles

No. 1 – Carson/Matsuoka (Tech) def. Banks/Davis (LOC), 8-0

No. 2 – Simmons/Brown (Tech) def. Mitchem/Tate (LOC), 8-0

No. 3 – Paul/Yu (Tech) won by Default

Tech 5, Christian Brothers 0

Singles

No 1. – Anna Carson (Tech) vs. Morgan Mills (CBU), 3-3, DNF

No. 2 – Saki Matsuoka (Tech) vs. Susie Mohan (CBU), 6-0, 1-0, DNF

No. 3 – Puja Paul (Tech) vs. Nicole Bates (CBU), 6-0, 2-0, DNF

No. 4 – Michelle Yu (Tech) vs. Natalie Jerden (CBU), 6-0, 2-0, DNF

No. 5 – Kristen Brown (Tech) def. Robyn Mellow (CBU), 6-0, 6-0

No. 6 – Whitney Simmons (Tech) def. Emily Vanover (CBU), 6-0, 6-1

Doubles

No. 1 – Carson/Matsuoka (Tech) def. Mills/Jerden (CBU), 8-0

No. 2 – Paul/Yu (Tech) def. Bates/Mohan (CBU), 8-1

No. 3 – Simmons/Brown (Tech) def. Mellow/Vanover (CBU), 8-0

-- Tech Athletics --