March 29, 2003

Results

MILWAUKEE - The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee women's tennis team suffered its second league defeat of the season Saturday at the hands of Youngstown State by a 4-3 margin. The Panthers (3-8, 1-2 Horizon) had several opportunities to put the match away, but fell short each time. The match was marred by a late start time and two venues due to Youngstown State's morning matchup with UW-Green Bay starting two hours later than scheduled.

The Panthers claimed wins at No. 4, No. 5 and No. 6 singles, as Tammie Spiel, Cassie Kuranz and Erin Felber each claimed a win. Spiel won over Alyson Finamore, 6-1, 6-4, while Kuranz posted a 6-0, 6-2 win over Nicolette Bondi. Erin Felber had the third win over Andrea Dixon, 6-0, 6-4.

Alyssa Halcomb and Molly Caulk each had a chance to secure the fourth win for the Panthers, rallying from a first-set loss to tie their match and send it into a tiebreaker. The tiebreakers and doubles matches had to be played at another site due to a scheduling conflict. The break stopped the momentum the Panthers had gained, as Caulk fell in her third set, 6-0, while Halcomb lost 1-0 (11-9) in her tiebreaker.

In doubles play, the pairing of Melissa Hackett and Felber picked up a win at No. 3 doubles over Dixon and Bondi, 8-5, despite trailing 5-2 in the match. Halcomb and Margie Van Lieshout fell, 8-3, while Kuranz and Caulk lost, 8-5, in the other doubles matchups.

The Panthers will return to action April 6 when they host UW-Green Bay at the Moorland Racquet Club in New Berlin. Sunday's match begins at 10 a.m.