April 14, 2007

GAINESVILLE, Ga. - Berry battled hard, but could not overcome the top-ranked team in the country AUM in the Championships of the Southern States Athletic Tournament. The women fell 5-2, while the men's team lost 5-0 to the Auburn-Montgomery men.

The Berry women's team started off in a positive way, claiming a 2-1 lead after the doubles matches were completed. Anja Chan and Kirstin Ruffner downed Nadia Lysak and Yushnee Pillay 8-6. Then Kristin Cobb and Rachael Fiebelman held on for a 9-7 win at the No. 3 singles spot. The only win for the Lady Senators came at the No. 1 spot, as Tereza Veverkova and Hannah Kuervers won 8-4 over Kristin Hunter and Patty Llaguno.

However, the Lady Senators came roaring back to win the top-four singles matches and take the Championship match. Veverkova won 6-0 and 6-2 at the No. 1 spot over Hunter. Then Patty Llaguno had to retire at the No. 2 singles match to give the AUM, the No. 1 team in the nation, a 3-2 lead.

The Lady Senators sealed the win as Rachel Dunlavy and Nadia Lysak won at the No. 3 and No. 4 positions to clinch the 5-2 win. Dunlavy defeated Chan 6-0, 6-3, while Lysak downed Ruffner 6-2, 6-3.

On the men's side AUM, which is also the top team in the NAIA Men's Tennis National Poll, swept the doubles competition winning each match by an 8-3 score.

The Senators then raced out to a pair of quick wins at No. 1 singles and No. 3 singles to clinch the 5-0 win over the Vikings. Daniel Plasa defeated Christian Jackle 6-0 and 6-1 at the No.1 singles spot. Then Nikola Miskovic defeated Marcelo Lebrao 6-4 and 6-2 to clinch the match.

Both the men's and women's teams will be in action Friday in the Region XIII Tournament. The Region XIII Tournament is hosted by Xavier (La.) and will be in New Orleans, La.

Women's - No. 1 AUM 8, No. 8 Berry 2
Doubles Competition
Veverkova/Kuervers (AUM) def. Hunter/Llaguno (BC) - 8-4
Chan/Ruffner (BC) def. Lysak/Pillay (AUM) - 8-6
Cobb/Fiebelman (BC) def. Fain/Dunlavy (AUM) - 9-7

Singles Competition
Tereza Veverkova (AUM) def. Kristin Hunter(BC) - 6-0, 6-2
Hannah Kuervers (AUM) def. Patty Llaguno (BC) - 6-4, Retired
Rachel Dunlavy (AUM) def. Anja Chan (BC) - 6-0, 6-3
Nadia Lysak (AUM) def. Kirstin Ruffner (BC) - 6-2, 6-3
Kristin Cobb (BC) DNF Yudeshnee Pillay (AUM) -
Rachael Fiebelman (BC) DNF Bethany Fain (AUM) -

Men's - No. 1 AUM 9, No. 11 Berry 0
Doubles Competition
Brykalin/Plasa (AUM) def. Jackie/Ferreira (BC) - 8-3
Petropolous/Mudrick def. Clifton/Peterlini (BC) - 8-3
Sanakai Papi/Miskovic (AUM) def. Lebrao/Chris Clark (BC) - 8-3

Singles Competition
Daniel Plasa (AUM) def. Christian Jackle (BC) - 6-0, 6-1
Anton Brykalin (AUM) DNF Andre Ferreira (BC) -
Nikola Miskovic (AUM) def. Marcelo Lebrao (BC) - 6-4, 6-2
Alex Petropolous (AUM) DNFMarcelo Peterlini (BC) -
Tim Mudrick (AUM) DNFDanny Aguilon (BC) -
Tomas Ptacek (AUM) DNF Adam Clifton (BC) -