March 19, 2004

LUBBOCK, Texas - The Lady Raider tennis team came out swinging today at the McLeod Tennis Center, losing only one doubles match to take the day, 7-0. The Lady Raiders served the UTEP (5-4, 1-1 WAC) Miners their fourth loss on the season, moving Tech to 7-3 overall and 2-2 in the Big 12.

In the No.1 position, senior Irina Tereschenko had no trouble with UTEP's Martina Rezar winning in straight sets with a pair of 6-2 matches. Tech's No.2 and No.3 positions filled by senior Kendall Brooks and sophomore Tara Browning, respectively, faced off against UTEP's Tea Spirta and Gilat Barzilai. Brooks (Tech) finished the hard fought match losing the first set, 1-6, taking the second 6-3, and fighting to claim the third, 6-4. Browning (Tech) had no trouble passing through Barzilai (UTEP) in back-to-back sets, 6-2, 6-0. In the No.4 position freshman Lakann Wagley (Tech) defeated Adrianna Boykova (UTEP) 6-3, 7-6, 7-4. Winning in straight sets, 6-0, 6-3, Tech sophomore Katja Kovacic in the No. 5 position took care of the Miner's Katherine Palider. Rounding out the last of Tech's competitors in the No. 6 position, freshman Hristiyana Gocheva ousted Danielle King (UTEP), 6-3, 6-1.

In doubles action, the No. 1 team Tereschenko and Kovacic (Tech) defeated Rezar and Palider (UTEP) 8-2, while Tech's No.2 doubles pair of Browning and Brooks knocked off Barzilai and Boykova, 8-4. In Tech's only loss of the day UTEP's King and Spirta defeated Tech's No.3 doubles pair of Wagley and Gocheva, 8-5.

With some hard fought matches coming down to the end, Head Coach Cari Groce is pleased with the team's mental toughness.

"Today was totally a team effort," said Groce. "We came out and jumbled up the doubles teams to see a little more action than we have seen before, and it worked in the No.1 and No. 2 positions. I am continuously pleased with our team's ability to fight until the end, and we are one of those teams that will play until the last point."

Tech will continue its weekend action tomorrow with play against Air Force starting at 11 a.m. Tech's final weekend competition will conclude with matches against Big 12 rival Baylor on Sunday at 11 a.m.

Results listed below:

Singles

No. 1 Irina Tereschenko (TTU) def. Martina Rezar (UTEP), 6-2, 6-2

No. 2 Kendall Brooks (TTU) def. Tea Spirta (UTEP), 1-6, 6-3, 6-4

No. 3 Tara Browning (TTU) def. Gilat Barzilai (UTEP), 6-2, 6-0

No. 4 Lakann Wagley (TTU) def. Adrianna Boykova (UTEP), 6-3, 7-6, 7-4

No. 5 Katja Kovacic (TTU) def. Katherine Palider (UTEP), 6-0, 6-3

No. 6 Hristiyana Gocheva (TTU) def. Danielle King (UTEP), 6-3, 6-1

Doubles

No. 1 Irina Tereschenko / Katja Kovacic (TTU) def. Martina Rezar/ Katherine Palider (UTEP) 8-2

No. 2 Tara Browning / Kendall Brooks (TTU) def. Gilat Barzilai/ Adrianna Boykova (UTEP), 8-4

No. 3 Danielle King/ Tea Spirta (UTEP) def. Lakann Wagley / Hristiyana Gocheva (TTU), 8-5