May 19, 2006

MOBILE, Ala. - Top-seeded Auburn University Montgomery (Ala.) claimed its third national championship in as many years at the 2006 NAIA Women's Tennis National Championship.  The Senators bested #2-seededFresno Pacific University (Calif.) 5-1 to win their seventh crown overall.

AUM took the early lead, winning all three doubles matches.  The wins did not come easy however as Nadia Lysak and Aina Rafolomantisiatosika traded games with Jelena Pandzic and Amandine Ferot before winning 9-7 at the #1 spot.  The No. 2 doubles found Khady Berthe and Natalie Sienkob jump to a lead after seeing the match tied at 2-2.  The duo always held at least a two-game lead before winning 8-4. 

Pandzic took the lone match for Fresno Pacific, winning 6-1, 6-1 against Rafolomantisiatosika at the #1 singles position.  Lysak then took the No. 4 singles 6-4, 6-2 for the 4-1 lead.  Rachel Dunlavy sealed the win with a 6-1, 6-1 win against Janelle Jackson for AUM's seventh national championship.

Auburn Montgomery finished the season with a 31-1 record.  Head coach Scott Kidd was named the NAIA Women's Tennis National Coach of the Year.  Jelena Pandzic, who finished the season with a perfect 24-0 record at the #1 singles position for Fresno Pacific was named the Marvin P. Richmond Outstanding Player.  In just its first season of competition, Fresno Pacific ended with a 24-2 season record.

For complete match results, please visit www.naia.org. 

Championship Match

Auburn Montgomery (31-1) def. Fresno Pacific (24-2), 5-1

Singles
#1 - Jelena Pandzic (FPU) def. Aina Rafolomanotsiatoseka (AUM), 6-1, 6-1
#2 - Khady Berthe (AUM) vs. Angie Minova (FPU), 6-2, 4-3 DNF
#3 - Natalie Sienkob (AUM) vs. Anna Karavayeva (FPU), 7-6 (5), 3-0 DNF
#4 - Nadia Lysak (AUM) def. Megan Hanner (FPU), 6-4, 6-2
#5 - Yudeshnee Pillay (AUM) vs. Amandine Ferot (FPU), 6-4, 3-0 DNF
#6 - Rachel Dunlavy (AUM) def. Janelle Jackson (FPU), 6-1, 6-1

Doubles
#1 - Nadia Lysak/Aina Rafolomantsiatosika (AUM) def. Jelena Pandzic/Amandine Ferot (FPU), 9-7
#2 - Khady Berthe/Natalie Sienkob (AUM) def. Angie Minova/Anna Karavayeva (FPU), 8-4
#3 - Yudeshree Pillay/Rachel Donlavy (AUM) def. Megan Hanner/Meghan Scott (FPU), 8-6

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