Herd Tennis Continues to Roll, Downs Buffalo 7-0

4/15/2005

Senior Ashley Kroh moved into a second place tie for career doubles wins (102/Alice Sukner) with her 8-0 victory with partner Jeanne Schwartz Friday against Buffalo. Photo by MATT RILEY

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. - For the sixth consecutive match, the Thundering Herd tennis team was victorious 7-0 as it downed the Buffalo Bulls in Mid-American Conference action Friday afternoon.

Marshall improves to 13-7 on the year and 5-1 in the MAC. The Bulls fall to 7-5, and 3-4 in conference play.

"I was really impressed with Buffalo," Marshall head coach John Mercer said. "They fought really hard and they're improving every year. They're going to be a force to be reckoned with in the MAC in the future."

The Thundering Herd got things going by sweeping the doubles point. The 60th ranked duo of Danielle Hock (Wigan, England) and Joelle Good (Zurich, Switzerland) downed Andreea Novaceanu and Kristen Ortman, 8-4 in the No. 1 spot. Ashley Kroh (Louisville, Ky.) and Jeanne Schwartz (West Palm Beach, Fla.) were 8-0 victors on court two, while Lille Nzudie (Duoala, Cameroon) and Shannon Brown (Overland Park, Kan.) picked up an 8-1 win from the third spot.

With her doubles win, Kroh ties Alice Sukner for second place in career doubles wins at Marshall with 102.

In singles play, on the back courts, the Herd dominated. Hock picked up a 6-1, 6-0 win at No. 4 and Schwartz cruised to a 6-0, 6-0 victory on court five. Brown clinched the match with a 6-3, 6-0 success at No. 6.

After slow starts on courts one, two and three, the Thundering Herd picked up some steam and went on to finish out the sweep.

At No.1, Kroh charged back from a 3-6 loss in the first set to take care of Novaceanu, 6-0, 6-2 in the second and third. Nzudie was a 6-4, 6-1 victor from the No. 2 spot, defeating Nenova.

Wrapping things up for the Herd on court three was Good with a 6-3, 7-5 win over Ortman.

"I think once we got some leads, we got some momentum and things started to go our way," Mercer said. "We need to continue to roll as we head toward the MAC tournament."

Marshall plays host to Akron, Saturday at 1 p.m. on campus at the Brian David Fox Tennis Center.


RESULTS - Marshall vs. Buffalo
Doubles:
No.1 - Hock/Good def. Novaceanu/Ortman 8-4
No.2 - Kroh/Schwartz def. Jacob/Carmona 8-0
No.3 - Nzudie/Brown def. Fischer/Nenova 8-1

Singles:
No.1 - Kroh def. Novaceanu 3-6, 6-0, 6-2
No.2 - Nzudie def. Nenova 6-4, 6-1
No.3 - Good def. Ortman 6-3, 7-5
No.4 - Hock def. Fischer 6-1, 6-0
No.5 - Schwartz def. Jackson 6-0, 6-0
No.6 - Brown def. Jacob 6-3, 6-0