March 9, 2007
Starkville, Miss. -
The No. 62 Auburn women's tennis team defeated Mississippi State, 6-1 at the A.J. Pitts Tennis Centre in Starkville, Miss. With the win, the Tigers improve to 6-4 on the year, while Miss. State falls to 4-6.
With the win, Auburn snaps a conference losing streak that dates back to 2004.
"It was good to get that monkey off of our back," head coach Tim Gray said. "We put in a great performance and the girls really stepped up today."
The Tigers began the match by losing the doubles point. Melissa Koning and Alex Haney lost to Martina Banikova and Valeriya Makarycheva, 8-4 at the No. 1 spot. At No. 2, Fani Chifchieva and Whitney Chappell took down Elna de Villiers and DeAndra Saddler, 8-4. Jil Hastenrath and Kelly Adams dropped the No. 3 match, 8-5 to Renee Joseph and Daniela Juskova.
Auburn picked up the pace in singles, taking all six matches. Starting at the No. 1 position, #39 Chifchieva fought past Banikova, 6-2, 2-6, 6-4. Koning took her No. 2 match, 7-5, 3-6, 6-1 over de Villiers, while Haney defeated Juskova in straight sets, 6-1, 6-2. Chappell looked strong with a 6-2, 4-6, 6-1 victory over Joseph at No. 4, and Hastenrath pushed past Saddler, 6-1, 6-4 at the No. 5 spot. The Tigers completed the singles sweep as Adams defeated Tatiana Feit 3-6, 6-0, 6-0.
DOUBLES - Martina Banikova/Valeriya Makarycheva (MSU) def. #20 Alex Haney/Melissa Koning (AU) 8-4; Whitney Chappell/Fani Chifchieva (AU) def. Elna de Villiers/DeAndra Saddler (MSU) 8-4; Renee Joseph/Daniela Juskova (MSU) def. Kelly Adams/Jil Hastenrath (AU) 8-5.
SINGLES - #39 Chifchieva (AU) def. Banikova 6-2, 2-6, 6-4; Koning (AU) def. de Villiers (MSU) 7-5, 3-6, 6-1; Haney (AU) def. Juskova 6-1, 6-2; Chappell (AU) def. Joseph (MSU) 6-2, 4-6, 6-1; Hastenrath (AU) def. Saddler (MSU) 6-1, 6-4; Adams (AU) def. Feit (MSU) 3-6, 6-0, 6-0.