Complete Release in PDF Format

March 27, 2008

Box Score

MOBILE, Ala. - The Marshall University's women's tennis team came-up short to No. 52 South Alabama, Thursday afternoon, 6-1, at the Bruce David Lubel Memorial Tennis Courts. The 73rd-ranked Thundering Herd squad fell to 12-8 overall while the Jaguars improved to 14-2 so far this season.

South Alabama advanced to a 3-2 all-time series lead over Marshall.

"We are not a very good team right now," Marshall's head coach John Mercer said. "But we have the ability to turn it around and keep working hard towards victories."

The No. 23 pair of Kellie Schmitt (Pittsburgh, Pa.) and Karolina Soor (Lindesberg, Sweden) took an 8-6 decision over the 35th-ranked Jaguars' duo of Adrianna Solarova and Sylvanie Spangenberg at the number one mark.

However, South Alabama captured the doubles point with an 8-4 Katie Welch and Michaela Babicova advantage over Thaddea Lock (Bristol, England) and Isabell Raich (Klaus, Austria) at the two. Jessica Keener (Reston, Va.) and Jeanne Schwartz (West Palm Beach, Fla.) fell to Erica Krisan and Jelena Krivacevic, 8-4, at the number three position

The Herd's lone point came from Schmitt (60th) at the number one slot over Solarova, 3-6, 6-4, 7-5. The 123rd-ranked Babicova defeated Soor, 3-6, 6-2, 6-4 at the number two. Playing the number three mark, Schwartz dropped to Krisan, 3-6, 6-2, 6-4.

Raich fell to Welch, 6-4, 3-6, 7-5, at the four. Spangenberg defeated Lock 7-5, 7-6 at the number five. At the number six position, Krivacevic took a straight-set 6-0, 7-6 victory over Keener.

"We need to keeping playing good in these last matches as we enter into Conference USA play," Coach Mercer added.

The Herd stands 2-7 against nationally-ranked opponents so far this season.

Marshall hopes to end its seven-match road trip with a victory against Middle Tennessee State (5-12), Saturday, April 5 in Murfreesboro, Tenn. at the Buck Bouldin Tennis Center with first serve set for 11 a.m. The Herd also expects ending its five-match losing streak against the Blue Raider's group.

Marshall vs South Alabama
3/27/2008 at Mobile, Ala.

#52 South Alabama 6, #73 Marshall 1

Singles competition
1. #60 Kellie Schmitt (MAR) def. Adrianna Solarova (USA) 3-6, 6-4, 7-5
2. #123 Michaela Babicova (USA) def. Karolina Soor (MAR) 3-6, 6-1, 6-2
3. Erica Krisan (USA) def. Jeanne Schwartz (MAR) 3-6, 6-2, 6-4
4. Katie Welch (USA) def. Isabell Raich (MAR) 6-4, 3-6, 7-5
5. Sylvanie Spangenberg (USA) def. Thaddea Lock (MAR) 7-5, 7-6
6. Jelena Krivacevic (USA) def. Jessica Keener (MAR) 6-0, 7-6

Doubles competition
1. #23 Kellie Schmitt/Karolina Soor (MAR) def. #35 Adrianna Solarova/Sylvanie Spangenberg (USA) 8-6
2. Katie Welch/Michaela Babicova (USA) def. Thaddea Lock/Isabell Raich (MAR) 8-4
3. Erica Krisan/Jelena Krivacevic (USA) def. Jeanne Schwartz/Jessica Keener (MAR) 8-4

Match Notes:
Marshall 12-8; National ranking #73
South Alabama 14-2; National ranking #52