Jan. 19, 2007
MIAMI, Fla. -
The 75th ranked Auburn University tennis team began the 2007 season with five total victories at the FIU Spring Invitational on Friday afternoon.
In singles play, redshirt freshman Fani Chifchieva defeated Paula Zabala of FIU, 6-1, 0-6, 6-2 in flight one. Sophomore Alex Haney, opened up her season with a 3-6, 6-2, 6-3 win over FIU's Egle Petrauskaite in flight two. In flight three, sophomore Whitney Chappell fell to Marijana Cutuk, 6-2, 6-2, but freshman Melissa Koning managed a win over Nikkita Fountain, 6-4, 3-6, 7-5. Freshman Jil Hastenrath also came away victorious, as she won her match in flight five over Maria Dolores Pazo in a classic fight, 7-5, 6-7, 7-6 (9-7). In flight six, sophomore Kelly Adams fell to Shilla D'Armas, 6-1, 6-0, while freshman Heather Bybee lost, 6-3, 6-1.
On the doubles side, Haney/Hastenrath defeated Modric/Duch of USF, 9-8 in flight one. Chifchieva/Koning fell to Sweeting/Vernon, 8-3 in flight two, while Chappell/Adams lost their flight three match to Rai/Cruz, 9-8 (5).
The Tigers continue play at the FIU Spring Invitational on Saturday. AU will face Miami in singles at 9 a.m. CT, then face FIU's doubles teams at 11:30 a.m.
Singles
AUB - Fani Chifchieva d. FIU - Paula Zabala (6-1, 0-6, 6-2)
AUB - Alex Haney d. FIU - Egle Petrauskaite (3-6, 6-2, 6-3)
FIU - Marijana Cutuk d. AUB - Whitney Chappell (6-2, 6-2)
AUB - Melissa Koning d. FIU - Nikkita Fountain (6-4, 3-6, 7-5)
AUB - Jil Hastenrath d. FIU - Maria Dolores Pazo (7-5, 6-7, 7-6 (9-7))
FIU - Shilla D'Armas d. AUB - Kelly Adams (6-1, 6-0)
FIU - Maria Jose Vallasciani d. AUB - Heather Bybee (6-3, 6-1)
Doubles
AUB - Alex Haney/Jil Hastenrath d. USF Ann-Marie Modric/Gabriela Duch (9-8)
USF - Jessica Sweeting/Courtney Vernon d. AUB - Fani Chifchieva/Melissa Koning (8-3)
USF - Iciri Rai/LizCruz d. AUB - Whitney Chappell/Kelly Adams (9-8 (5))