March 30, 2003

Columbia, S.C. – The 37th ranked University of South Carolina women’s tennis team fell to the 20th ranked Alabama 6-1 Sunday at the USC indoor tennis facility. The loss dropped USC to 12-6 overall and to 5-3 in the SEC while the Crimson Tide improved to 15-4 overall and 5-3 in the SEC.

The Gamecocks picked up their only win on the day at number six singles. Justine Walsh, a freshman from Vancouver, Canada defeated Natalie McElveen. Walsh dropped the first set 6-4 but took the second set 6-3 and won the match in a third set super tie-breaker match 10-5. The win improved Walsh’s record to 13-6 overall while she is now 6-2 in SEC dual matches.

The loss was the first loss to an SEC West opponent since April 9th, 2000 when the Gamecocks fell to Ole Miss 6-0. The loss snapped a 19 match winning streak for the Gamecocks against the Western division of the SEC. The Gamecocks return to action this Friday when they travel to Athens to face the 6th ranked Georgia Bulldogs. After the match on Sunday, the Gamecocks travel to Knoxville to face the 7th ranked Tennessee Volunteers.

Doubles:
No. 1 Robin Stephenson/Natalie McElveen (Alabama) d. Kathy Boyanovich/Magda Wojdylo (USC) 8-4
No. 2 Ashley Bentley/Nathalie Koppelle (Alabama) d. Danielle Wiggins/Jodi Kenoyer (USC) 8-5
No. 3 Sophie Cremers/Marie Lord-Andrade (Alabama) d. Justine Walsh/Catherine Brown (USC) 8-3

Singles:
No. 1 Sophie Cremers (Alabama) d. Kathy Boyanovich (USC) 6-2,6-4
No. 2 Robin Stephenson (Alabama) d Jodi Kenoyer (USC) 7-6(4),6-4
No. 3 Marie Lord-Andrade (Alabama) d. Danielle Wiggins (USC) 4-6,6-1,6-4
No. 4 Ashley Bentley (Alabama) d. Magda Wojdylo (USC) 6-2,6-3
No. 5 Nathalie Koppelle (Alabama) d. Catherine Brown (USC) 7-6(3),6-1
No. 6 Justine Walsh (USC) d. Natalie McElveen (Alabama) 4-6,6-3,1-0(10-5)