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Feb. 4, 2005

Quotes | Notes

Columbia, S.C. – The University of South Carolina’s women’s tennis team won a six and a half hour marathon on Friday, 4-3 against the 21st ranked Michigan Wolverines at the USC Indoor Tennis Facility. The win improved the Gamecocks to 2-0 while the Wolverines dropped to 2-3.

The Wolverines took a 1-0 lead into singles after sweeping the three doubles contest. Kara Delicata and Michelle DaCosta ranked 15th in the nation in doubles defeated USC’s Fallon Koon and Miranda Gutierrez 8-2 at number one singles. The Wolverines would clinch the doubles point at number three doubles where Leeanne Rutherford and Allie Shafner defeated Laura Ganzer and Grace Blakely, 8-3. Christyn Lucas and Magda Wojdylo dropped their doubles match at flight two, 9-7 to Elizabeth Exon and Nina Yaftali.

Michigan extended their lead to 2-0 when 44th ranked Michelle DaCosta defeated Christyn Lucas in straight sets 6-2,6-1 at the number one singles flight. Magda Wojdylo would get Carolina’s first point with a 6-3,7-5 victory over Leeanne Rutherford at number four singles. USC evened the score after Miranda Gutierrez took a three set victory against Leeanne Rutherford at position three, 6-4,3-6,6-3. Carolina would take the lead at 3-2 when Laura Ganzer upset 95th ranked Elizabeth Exon in straight sets, 6-4,6-3 at number two singles.

Fallon Koon at number five singles took a 6-4 win in the first set before dropping the second set 6-3. In the third set, Koon went up 5-2 but Yaftali rallied back to win the next three games to tie the set at five games a piece. Koon won the next game to go up 6-5 but Yaftali would not quit as she rallied once again to force a tie-breaker. In the tie-breaker, Yaftali won 7-3 to tie the match at three.

The match would then come down to the number six singles match between Justine Walsh and Allie Shafner. Walsh took the first set 7-5 before dropping the second set 6-3. Walsh would clinch the victory for Carolina in the final stanza at flight six with a 6-4 victory. Walsh up 5-4 rallied from a 40-15 deficit in the game to clinch the victory for the Gamecocks.

“It was a heck of a team win. We were short handed without a couple of players in the lineup but everyone really stepped up today. We got blasted in doubles and it was amazing to see how the team responded to fight back in singles and win the match.”

The Gamecocks will return to action to face the Maryland Terrapins on Sunday at 10 am at the USC Indoor Tennis Facility while the Wolverines will face the Terps on Saturday at 12 noon.

Final Score
#36 South Carolina (2-0) 4
#21 Michigan (2-3) 3

Doubles Results
1. #15 Kara Delicata/Michelle DaCosta (M) d. Fallon Koon/Miranda Gutierrez (SC) 8-2
2. Elizabeth Exon/Nina Yaftali (M) d. Christyn Lucas/Magda Wojdylo (SC) 9-7
3. Leeanne Rutherford/Allie Shafner (M) d. Laura Ganzer/Grace Blakely (SC) 8-3
Order of Finish: 1,3,2

Singles Results
1. # 44 Michelle DaCosta (M) d. Christyn Lucas (SC) 6-2, 6-1
2. Laura Ganzer (SC) d. #95 Elizabeth Exon (M) 6-4, 6-3
3. Miranda Gutierrez (SC) d. Kara Delicata (M) 6-4, 3-6, 6-3
4. Magda Wojdylo (SC) d. Leeanne Rutherford (M) 6-3, 7-5
5. Nina Yaftali (M) d. Fallon Koon (SC) 4-6, 6-3, 7-6(3)
6. Justine Walsh (SC) d. Allie Shafner (M) 7-5, 3-6, 6-4
Order of Finish: 1,4,3,2,5,6