Feb. 27, 2007

DALLAS (SMU) - The No. 45 SMU women's tennis team edged No. 75 Furman today, 5-2. With this win, the Mustangs advance to 7-3 on the season.

"Today was a messy game of tennis," head coach Lauren Longbotham said. "The wind was all over the place and it was a difficult day for both teams. This was also tough because we are coming off a long road-trip and mentally drained but we fought hard and found the win. I was pleased with our doubles today and I felt Monica (Neveklovska) and Kristen (Reid) really came out at No. 3 and played the way I know they can. In singles, Pavi (Francis) did a great job of focusing and coming out strong."

The Mustangs swept the doubles point with Kristen Reid and Monica Neveklovska taking the win first over Lisa Bornt-Davis and Lauren Tomory at No. 3, 8-4. Natalia Bubien and Claire Rietsch clinched the doubles point in a tie-breaker with a 8-6 win at No. 1 over Laura Gioia and Natasa Manojloivc. Jennifer Chay and Pavi Francis also took a win over Lauren Osborne and Jacqueline Eckert at No. 2 doubles, 9-8 (7-1).

In singles competition, Francis finished off Eckert, 6-1, 6-0, at No. 4 to bring the Mustangs up by two. Chay fell at No. 1 singles to Gioia, 6-4, 6-1. Rietsch increased the Mustang lead as she outlasted Baird at No. 3, 7-6 (7-5), 6-3. Bubien clinched the SMU win as she defeated Osborne in three sets at No. 2, 6-3, 5-7, 6-1. The No. 6 singles match-up between Reid and Furman's Tomory concluded moments after the conclusion of No. 2 as Reid fell, 6-4, 6-4. The No. 5 singles lasted over an hour longer than all the other singles matches as Marta fought off Manojloivc, 7-, 7-6. Neveklovska and Wanjiku Ngaruiya competed at No. 7 singles as Neveklovska cruised over Ngaruiya , 6-1, 6-3.

Up next for the Mustangs is a match against New Mexico State on Sat., March 3 at the Garland Tennis Center.

Tennis Match ResultsFurman vs Southern Methodist2/27/2007 at Dallas, Texas
#45 Southern Methodist 5, #75 Furman 2
 Singles competition1. Laura Gioia (FURMAN) def. Chay, Jennifer (SMU) 6-4, 6-12. Bubien, Natalia (SMU) def. Lauren Osborne (FURMAN) 6-3, 5-7, 6-13. Rietsch, Claire (SMU) def. Bonnie Baird (FURMAN) 7-6 (7-5), 6-34. Francis, Pavi (SMU) def. Jacqueline Eckert (FURMAN) 6-1, 6-05. Marta, Georgiana (SMU) def. Natasa Manojloivc (FURMAN) 7-6, 7-66. Lauren Tomory (FURMAN) def. Reid, Kristen (SMU) 6-4, 6-47. Monica Neveklovska (SMU) def. Wanjiku Ngaruiya, 6-1, 6-3
 Doubles competition1. Bubien, Natalia/Rietsch, Claire (SMU) def. Laura Gioia/Natasa Manojloivc (FURMAN) 8-62. Chay, Jennifer/Francis, Pavi (SMU) def. Lauren Osborne/Jacqueline Eckert (FURMAN) 9-8 (7-1)3. Neveklovska, Monica/Reid, Kristen (SMU) def. Lisa Bornt-Davis/Lauren Tomory (FURMAN) 8-4
Match Notes:Furman 1-6; National ranking #75Southern Methodist 7-3; National ranking #45Order of finish: Doubles (3,1,2); Singles (4,1,3,2,6,5)