March 13, 2004

Columbia, S.C. – The University of South Carolina women’s tennis team defeated No. 15 Harvard 5-2 on Saturday at the Maxcy Gregg Tennis Facility in Columbia. The win improved South Carolina to 9-4 overall while the Crimson dropped to 5-5 on the season. The victory marks the first for USC against a top 15 team since the 2002 season when USC defeated Georgia in the SEC Tournament.

USC jumped out to an 1-0 lead by sweeping the Crimson in doubles play. Christyn Lucas and Fallon Koon took the first doubles match for USC by defeating Hyotte and Eva Wang 8-4. Laura Ganzer and Danielle Wiggins clinched the point for Carolina with a 8-4 win over the 16th ranked doubles team of Courtney Bergman and Susanna Lingman at number two doubles. Ayako Suzuki and Miranda Gutierrez took number three doubles 8-6 to give Carolina the doubles sweep.

Carolina clinched the match at 4-0 by taking the first three singles matches off the court. Magda Wojdylo gave USC a 2-0 lead when she defeated Melissa Anderson at number six singles in straight sets 6-4,6-2. At three singles, Laura Ganzer defeated Eva Wang 6-2,6-2 and then Miranda Gutierrez would clinch the victory at 4-0 with a 6-2,6-3 win over Cindy Chu at the number four spot. USC would pick up their fifth point of the match when Fallon Koon defeated Preethi Mukundan at the number five flight 6-2,7-6(4). Harvard’s two points came at the number one and two singles spot where both matches went to three sets. The Crimson’s No. 35 ranked Courtney Bergman defeated No. 54 Danielle Wiggins 6-2,3-6,1-0(4) while Susanna Lingman defeated Christyn Lucas 6-2,3-6,6-4.

The Gamecocks return to action on Friday to play Alabama in Tuscaloosa and then will play Auburn on Sunday.

South Carolina 5, Harvard 2

Doubles:
1. Laura Ganzer/Danielle Wiggins (SC) d. #16 Bergman/Lingman (H) 8-4
2. Christyn Lucas/Fallon Koon (SC) d. Hyotte/Wang (H) 8-4
3. Miranda Gutierrez/Ayako Suzuki (SC) d. Mukundoan/Anderson (H) 8-6
Order of Finish: 2,1,3

Singles:
1. #35 Courtney Bergman (H) d. #54 Danielle Wiggins (SC) 6-2,3-6,1-0(4)
2. Susanna Lingman (H) d. Christyn Lucas (SC) 6-3,3-6,6-4
3. Laura Ganzer (SC) d. Eva Wang (H) 6-2,6-2
4. Miranda Gutierrez (SC) d. Cindy Chu (H) 6-2,6-3
5. Fallon Koon (SC) d. Preethi Mukundan (H) 6-2,7-6(4)
6. Magda Wojdylo (SC) d. Melissa Anderson (H) 6-4,6-2
Order of Finish: 6,3,4,5,1,2