Women's Tennis Falls To Eastern Michigan In MAC Championship Match

4/30/2001

Huntington, W.V. - Eastern Michigan University claimed the 2001 Mid-American Conference Women's Tennis Tournament Championship on Sunday afternoon by defeating Marshall University, 4-3, in a match that lasted four and a half hours.


"It is incredible," Eastern Michigan head coach Dave Farmer said. "They were all good teams out here, it is a shame someone had to lose."


Eastern Michigan's Simone Duhme defeated Marshall's Ana Ceretto in the No. 2 slot, 7-5, in the third set to give the Eagles the championship. Others picking up wins for the Eagles were Rebecca Hawkins, who defeated Anna Mitina, 6-3, 6-3, in the No. 1 slot. Lisa D'Amelio outlasted Marshall's Alice Sukner, 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 in the No. 3 slot. Amalia Lincaru of Eastern also defeated Vicky Lee, 6-3, 4-6, 6-0, in the No. 4 spot.

"It is what you dream about," Duhme said. "Marshall played tough, and going down in the doubles point, we knew that we had to pick up four singles wins. It was not my match that won, it just took the longest. It is unbelievable."

Marshall picked up the first point of the day by claiming the doubles point. Mitina and Ceretto defeated Hawkins and D'Amelio, 8-6, in the No. 1 slot, and Skalsky and Cabiling defeated Lincaru and Clark, 8-2, in the No. 3 spot.

"It was a great championship match today," Marshall head coach Laurie Mercer said. "Eastern Michigan played a courageous match and certainly deserve to be the tournament champions. I could not be more proud of my players, especially the seniors."

Eastern Michigan last won the MAC Tournament Championship in 1998.