Saturday, April 18, 2009

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. - The No. 2 ETSU Lady Bucs battled it out with the No. 1 Stetson Hatters to claim the 2009 Women's Tennis Championship, 4-2, at the ETSU Buddy Hartell Tennis Center. ETSU senior Tara Bryne received the MVP award.

Only the No. 1 and No. 6 matches were left on the court before All-Tournament selection Tara Sheets put ETSU over the top takin the match 7-6 (9), 2-6, 6-2.

Stetson started the day out right taking the doubles points with the teams of Valentina Galbarini and Unnati Purnshotham taking down Yevgeniya Stupak and Paula Jaime, 8-3. The No. 3 doubles team Shannon Gunning/Katherine St. Clair securing the point with an 8-4 victory.

The No. 5 singles match finished first and quickly with Gunning winning 6-2, 6-2. ETSU quickly fought back with a win at No. 3 singles with Karina Kedzo taking down Purushotham.

After securing the match point yesterday against Jacksonville, the Tournament MVP Tara Bryne put the Lady Bucs ahead with another victory defeating Breanna Atkinson, 3-6, 6-1, 6-2.

ETSU avenges its only conference loss of the season a 4-3 setback in DeLand, Fla. earlier this season, and takes back the championship after losing to Jacksonville in 2007 and 2008. The Lady Bucs find out who they will face at the NCAA’s Tuesday, April 28th on ESPNNews. Single and doubles selections will be released Wednesday, April 29th.

All-Tournament Team Tatiana Soldatova, Jacksonville Shannon Gunning, Stetson Valentina Galbarini, Stetson Tara Sheets, ETSU Yevgenia Stupakm ETSU Tara Byrne, ETSU Most Valuable Player Tara Byrne, ETSU

The Atlantic Sun Conference is an 11-member league committed to Building Winners for Life. The A-Sun stands for achievement with integrity in both the academic and athletic arenas, with a focus on the balance between the two for our student-athletes. Headquartered in Macon, Ga., the A-Sun boasts six of the top eight media markets in the Southeast. The A-Sun includes a blend of the most prestigious and dynamic private and public institutions in the region: Belmont University, Campbell University, East Tennessee State University, Florida Gulf Coast University, Jacksonville University, Kennesaw State University, Lipscomb University, Mercer University, University of North Florida, University of South Carolina Upstate and Stetson University.

Results
ETSU vs. Stetson
Singles
1. Valentina Galbarini (STET) vs. Yevgeniya STUPAK (ETSU) no result
2. Tara BYRNE (ETSU) def. Breanna Atkinson (STET) 3-6, 6-1, 6-2
3. Karina KEDZO (ETSU) def. Unnati Purushotham (STET) 6-0, 6-4
4. Paula JAIME (ETSU) def. Katherine Nowicki (STET) 3-6, 7-5, 6-0
5. Shannon Gunning (STET) def. Vita MOSKALIOVA (ETSU) 6-2, 6-2
6. Tara SHEETS (ETSU) def. Jacqueline Faulk (STET) 7-6 (9-7), 2-6, 6-2
Doubles competition
1. Valentina Galbarini/Unnati Purushotham (STET) def. Yevgeniya STUPAK/Paula JAIME (ETSU) 8-3
2. Breanna Atkinson/Katherine Nowicki (STET) vs. Karina KEDZO/Tara BYRNE (ETSU) no result
3. Shannon Gunning/Katherine St. Clair (STET) def. Vita MOSKALIOVA/Tara SHEETS (ETSU) 8-4

Match Notes:
ETSU wins second A-Sun title in school history (2006)
Order of finish (1,3)
Singles (5,3,4,2,6)