March 18, 2007
TAMPA, FLa. -
The No. 61 Auburn Tigers (8-4) upset No. 39 South Florida (8-5), 4-2 on Sunday at the USF Varsity Tennis Courts. The win was the third straight for the Tigers.<?xml:namespace prefix="o" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"?>
"This was the type of win that we have been so close to getting on several times this spring," head coach Tim Gray said. "We knew going in that USF was a very gritty team so we were ready to go the distance if necessary. This is another sign that our program is headed in the right direction."
The Tigers began the match by taking two of three matches, and the all important doubles point. The 20th ranked team of Melissa Koning and Alex Haney defeated No. 26 Robinson/Duch, 8-6 at the first spot, while Fani Chifchieva and Whitney Chappell breezed past Sweeting/Vernon, 8-1 at No. 2. Jil Hastentrath and Kelly Adams were unable to complete the sweep, falling 8-3 at the third spot.
With a 1-0 lead, <?xml:namespace prefix="st1" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"?>Auburn continued to roll in singles play. No. 39 Chifchieva picked up her second win over Shadisha Robinson on the year, defeating the 18th ranked opponent, 6-1, 7-5. Koning pulled off an upset of her own, defeating No. 71 Courtney Vernon, 7-5, 7-5. At the No. 3 spot, Haney continued her hot play as of late, beating Jessica Sweeting, 4-6, 6-2, 6-4
South Florida's Liz Cruz managed to pick up a point for her team, defeating Hastenrath, 6-2, 6-2, while Iciri Rai took another one for USF with a win over Adams, 6-2, 6-4. It was not enough to overcome Auburn's power, and Chappell's match was stopped as the Tigers had already won the match.
Auburn will head return home for a pair of SEC matches as the Tigers take on Georgia on Friday at 2 p.m. and Tennessee on Sunday at noon.
No. 61 Auburn 4 No. 39 USF 2
Doubles
1) (20) Koning/Haney (AUB) def. (26) Robinson/Duch (USF) 8-6
2) Chifchieva/Chappell (AUB) def. Sweeting/Vernon 8-1
3) Cruz/Rai (USF) def. Hastenrath/Adams (AUB) 8-3
Singles
1) (39) Fani Chifchieva (AUB) def. (18) Shadisha Robinson (USF) 6-1, 7-5
2) Melissa Koning (AUB) def. (71) Courtney Vernon (USF) 7-5, 7-5
3) Alex Haney (AUB) def. Jessica Sweeting (USF) 4-6, 6-2, 6-4
4) Liz Cruz (USF) def. Jil Hastenrath (AUB) 6-2, 6-2
5) Whitney Chappell (AUB) led Gabriela Duch (USF) 4-6, 7-6(4), 3-1 (unfinished)
6) Iciri Rai (USF) def. Kelly Adams (AUB) 6-2, 6-4