Saturday, April 03, 2010

MACON, Ga. – The Atlantic Sun Women’s Tennis Match of the Week features two of the league’s top teams, as Yevgeniya Stupak and ETSU host Aline Berkenbrock and UNF in a duel for the regular-season title. The match begins at 2:30 p.m. Saturday in Johnson City, Tenn.

ETSU defeated Jacksonville, 5-2, Friday to push its record to 14-3, 9-0 in conference play. The Ospreys enter one-half game back of Lady Bucs at 8-0 in A-Sun play. They sport a 17-1 overall record, having won 12 straight contests.

“I don’t know if we have the advantage by having this match at home,” ETSU head coach Steve Brooks said. “We do not play at home that often. However, I think it is going to be such a good match. UNF plays so well at home in Jacksonville, so it is going to be great for us to get them away from their home. I think it is going to be a tough match tomorrow!”

Stupak looks to close out her senior season with a second straight Player of the Year title, as the top performer leads ETSU with an 11-2 singles record at the No. 1 position. Even with such a strong player at the position, players rely on the whole of the team for the match win.

“For tomorrow’s match, who knows who is going to win, but everyone will rely on each other for the win,” Brooks said. “My one and six need to put a pressure on the opponents. The longer you stay undefeated, the harder it is to stay undefeated. They just have to go out and do what needs to get done.”

As each team has had a strong showing this spring season, each player knows they have to come out and have a successful showing for tomorrow to be a successful day for them. However, there is always the most pressure on the No. 1 position, especially is key matches such as this.

“I think every matchup is going to be the key,” coach Brooks said. “Unfortunately, the player of the year is going to come out of the No. 1 matchup. The player of the year is basically the person who plays the best during the spring.”

“Everybody has been showing up at every match; it is going to take more than showing up tomorrow,” UNF head coach Rodrigo Puebla said. “We are all looking forward to that tomorrow. That is keeping them going.”

UNF’s two-time A-Sun player of the week winner, Aline Berkenbrock, stands as another candidate vying for the player of the year title. The sophomore has been a guiding force behind the once-beaten Ospreys.

“Aline is successful as she had every match successful for her,” Puebla said. “However, Lauren [Holton] is still undefeated at No. 6. For 1-6, everybody has to come out and play. I’m not calling on one person to come out and play. Tomorrow, doubles play will be crucial.”

UNF has recently raised its ITA ranking to No. 60 Tuesday. The Ospreys only loss of the spring season came against the College of Charleston Sunday, February 21.

“UNF has been seriously ranked in the NCAA as they have played tough teams,” Brooks said. “They are going to stay in the rankings and that is going to help their recruitment. With us, it is hard to get into the rankings. I purposely have us play so many highly-ranked teams because it is important us to play tough teams and then learn how to be tough.”

“Whoever wins this match will win the conference,” Puebla said. “It is going to take a lot for us to win. I’m hoping we get used to the courts because every court is different. Hopefully the weather will cooperate. For us to win tomorrow and be successful, everybody needs to come out and be successful.”

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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.