Women's Tennis Finishes Stretch Of Four Matches In Five Days With Win

Saturday, April 8

Murray, Ky.

10:00 a.m.

Murray State

Jacksonville State University

Women's Tennis Finishes Stretch Of Four Matches In Five Days With Win

4/8/2006 5:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis

Murray State University's women's tennis team finished off a stretch of four matches in five days with a 5-2 win today against Jacksonville State University at the Bennie Purcell Tennis Courts in Murray, Ky. With their third win in the four-match stretch the Racers improve to 11-8 on the season and 7-1 in Ohio Valley Conference play. The Gamecocks fall to 4-15 overall and 3-4 in league matches.

“This was four big matches in a row and the team came ready to play everyday,” said Murray State Head Coach Connie Keasling. “They gave everything they had and they left everything on the court. There's nothing left emotionally or physically.”

Keasling took time to honor senior Tami McQueen before the final home match of her career. McQueen, the lone senior on the 2006 squad, has already earned her bachelor's degree in advertising and is working toward a master's degree in mass communication. The Menlo Park, South Africa native is a seven-time member of MSU's Dean's List and a three-time member of the Ohio Valley Conference Commissioner's Honor Roll.

“Tami has been such a great ambassador for our program and for the university,” Keasling said of her senior. “Her singles and doubles play as a freshman was key to winning the conference championship. As a sophomore and junior her role on the team changed to more of an assistant coaching role. Now as a senior she's playing a huge role in the success of this team so far. In her four years as a part of this program she's always found a way to contribute.”

The Racers wasted little time winning the doubles point. Anna Lask and Rachael Lask jumped out to a 6-0 lead at number one doubles over JSU's Michelle Dushner and Erin Higgs. MSU broke the Gamecocks' serve three times on its way to the 6-0 lead.

Jacksonville State broke serve in game seven and finally got on the board. JSU made it 6-2 before the Lask sisters won the final two games, including breaking serve for the fourth time, to win the match.

Anne Pennington and Casady Pruitt also broke the Gamecocks' serve three times on their way to a 6-0 lead over Layla Abby and Eloah Lopes at number two doubles. JSU returned the favor in the seventh game, breaking Pennington's serve to close to 6-1.

The Racers won the next two games to claim the 8-1 win. In the ninth game, with Pruitt serving, MSU raced ahead 40-0. Jacksonville State closed to 40-30 but JSU returned a long shot by Pruitt out of bounds giving the home team the doubles point.

Babette Lombardo and Marcia Barnes kept Jacksonville State from being shutout of doubles play with an 8-2 win at number three doubles over Adriana Alvarez and McQueen.

Murray State won the first three singles matches to claim the team victory. Pennington got things started with a 6-2 and 6-2 victory over Lombardo at number four singles. Anna Lask's 6-0 and 6-4 win over Dushner at number one singles made it 3-0 in favor of the Racers.

Rachael Lask sealed the deal for Murray State with a come from behind win at number two singles. After losing the first set to Higgs 7-5, Lask came back to win the second set 6-1 and then took the win with a 6-3 third-set victory.

Lopes edged Pruitt in three sets, 6-3, 2-6 and 7-6 (1), at number three singles. Alvarez knocked out Abby, 6-4 and 6-4, at number five singles. Borda's 6-4 and 6-2 victory over McQueen at number six singles set the final score at 5-2.

After playing four matches in five days, the Racers will have a short break until Tuesday when they travel to Clarksville, Tenn., to face Austin Peay at 2:30 p.m.

Tennis Match Results
Murray State University vs Jacksonville State University
April 8, 2006 at Murray, Ky. (Bennie Purcell Tennis Center)

Murray State 5, Jacksonville State 2

Doubles competition:
1. Anna Lask/Rachael Lask (MUR) def. Michelle Dushner/Erin Higgs (JSU) 8-2
2. Anne Pennington/Casady Pruitt (MUR) def. Layla Abby/Eloah Lopes (JSU) 8-1
3. Babette Lombardo/Marcia Barnes (JSU ) def. Adriana Alvarez/Tami McQueen (MUR) 8-2

Singles competition:
1. Anna Lask (MUR ) def. Michelle Dushner (JSU) 6-0, 6-4
2. Rachael Lask (MUR) def. Erin Higgs (JSU ) 5-7, 6-1, 6-3
3. Eloah Lopes (JSU) def. Casady Pruitt (MUR) 6-3, 2-6, 7-6 (1)
4 Anne Pennington (MUR) vs. Babette Lombardo (JSU) 6-2, 6-2
5. Adriana Alvarez (MUR ) def. Layla Abby (JSU) 6-4, 6-4
6. Adriana Borda (JSU) def. Tami McQueen (MUR) 6-4, 6-2

Match Notes:
Jacksonville State 4-15 (3-4 OVC)
Murray State 11-8 (7-1 OVC)