Sept. 24, 2005
RALEIGH, N.C. -- The Auburn women's tennis team looked much more polished on Saturday at the Wolfpack Invitational than it did on Friday. After dropping all six matches on Friday, the Tigers settled down, winning three of seven matches on Saturday.
Freshman Alex Haney highlighted the day for the Tigers, as she had a hand in all three victories. The Grayson, Ga., native won her singles match in the A2 draw 6-1, 6-3 over Kelly Fleck of Elon and paired with senior Ashley Cowart to win both doubles matches. The victories were the first of Haney's career. Haney will face Gillie Bailey of East Carolina in the ninth-place singles match at 9 a.m.
Senior Ashley Cowart dropped her singles match to Olya Batsula of East Tennessee State 6-1, 6-3 and will face K. Jiskrova of Hampton on Sunday. In doubles Cowart and Haney defeated Elena Volobueva and Sandie Knight of East Tennessee State 8-4. The pair then defeated Ellen Rogers and Lauren Lynn Williams of Wofford. The duo will face Ana Paula Novaes and Patricia Coimbra of Winthrop at 7:30 a.m. Sunday in the ninth-place match.
Both senior Erin Gray and freshman Rita Pljusznyin dropped their respective singles matches in the B1 draw. Gray fell to Manuela Emmrich of Armstrong Atlantic. Pljusznyin went three sets, but lost to Lauren Graham of James Madison 6-3, 0-6, 10-5. Gray and Pljusznyin will face each other at 8:45 a.m. Sunday.
In doubles, Gray and Pljusznyin dropped its match versus Novaes and Coimbra of Winthrop. The pair will face Rogers and Williams of Wofford at 7:30 a.m. Sunday
The Wolfpack Invitational is an 18-team three-day tournament that features eight singles draws and two doubles draws.
The Tigers conclude play at the Wolfpack Invitational Sunday. For the latest news in Auburn tennis, please visit www.auburntigers.com
Women's Collegiate Tennis
Wolfpack Invitational
Raleigh, N.C.
Singles
Draw A1
Olya Batsula, East Tenn. St., def. (4)Ashley Cowart, AU, 6-1, 6-3.
Draw A2
Alex Haney, AU, def. Kelly Fleck, Elon, 6-1, 6-3.
Draw B1
Manuella Emrich, Armstrong Atlantic, def. Erin Gray, AU.
Lauren Graham, James Madison, def. (3)Rita Pljusznyin, AU, 6-3, 0-6, 10-5.
Doubles
Draw A1
Ana Paula Novaes and Patricia Coimbra, Winthrop, def. Erin Gray and Rita Pljusznyin, AU.
Ashley Cowart and Alex Haney, AU, def. Elena Volobueva and Sandie Knight, ETSU, 8-4.
Ashley Cowart and Alex Haney, AU, def. Ellen Rogers and Laura Lynn Williams, Wofford.