Feb. 13, 2004

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - The Texas Tech women's tennis team suffered its first loss of the season today at the hands of the Colorado State Rams. The Lady Raiders dominated on the doubles court winning all three matches, but lost four out of six matches in singles play. Colorado State had several come from behind singles matches and ultimately walked away with the win, 4-3.

In the number one position in singles play, Dasha Zhurin (CSU) came from behind to knock off senior Irina Tereschenko, 0-6, 6-1, 7-5, as well as Emily Kirchem (CSU) who also came from behind to beat senior Kendall Brooks, 4-6, 6-2, 6-2, in the number two position. Playing at the number three position, sophomore Tara Browning bested Alexandra Paganetti (CSU), 6-1, 6-0. In position number four, sophomore Alexandra Zotta was defeated by Charity Malone (CSU), 4-6, 7-5, 6-3, and Lakann Wagley lost to Tatyana Ugorich(CSU), 6-4, 3-6, 6-1, in the number five position. Katja Kovacic defeated Carla Pallares(CSU), 6-1, 6-3, in position number six to round out singles play.

In doubles action, Tereschenko and Brooks knocked off Zhurin and Kirchem (CSU), 8-5, in the first position, while Browning and Kovacic defeated Malone and Jasmin Singh (CSU), 8-1, in position number two. In the third position, freshman Hristiyana Gocheva and Wagley won their match against Paganetti and Ugorich (CSU), 8-3, to complete doubles play.

"I am not going to change anything," stated head coach Cari Groce. "I feel really confident about the players that I put on the court. We learned a big lesson today and we addressed it. I think the future will be very strong, and I think this was just a small pothole on the way to becoming very successful."

Match results are listed below.

Colorado State 4, Texas Tech 3

Singles

No. 1 Dasha Zhurin (CSU) def. Irina Tereschenko (TTU) 0-6, 6-1, 7-5

No. 2 Emily Kirchem (CSU) def. Kendall Brooks (TTU) 4-6, 6-2, 6-2

No. 3 Tara Browning (TTU) def. Alexandra Paganetti (CSU) 6-1, 6-0

No. 4 Charity Malone (CSU) def. Alexandra Zotta (TTU) 4-6, 7-5, 6-3

No. 5 Tatyana Ugorich (CSU) def. Lakann Wagley (TTU) 6-4, 3-6, 6-1

No. 6 Katja Kovacic (TTU) def. Carla Pallares (CSU) 6-1, 6-3

Doubles

No. 1 Irina Tereschenko/Kendall Brooks (TTU) def. Dasha Zhurin/Emily Kirchem (CSU) 8-5

No. 2 Tara Browning/Katja Kovacic (TTU) def. Charity Malone/Jasmin Singh (CSU) 8-1

No. 3 Hristiyana Gocheva/Lakann Wagley (TTU) def. Alexandra Paganetti/Tatyana Ugorich (CSU) 8-3