Feb. 17, 2008

Final Stats

WINSTON-SALEM, NC - Freshman Laken Joyce won the first match of her WSSU tennis career yet it was not enough as the Lady Rams tennis team fell to Catawba College 6-1 on Sunday morning at the WSSU Tennis Complex in Winston-Salem, NC.

Joyce defeated Catawba's Kasia Zielinski, 6-4, 6-4 in straight sets at second singles as she was the only WSSU player to record a match victory.  The win, the Lady Rams' first match victory of the 2008 season also marked Joyce's first career collegiate tennis win.

Joyce was nearly joined by teammate Gabrielle Benjamin who dropped a heartbreaker at fifth singles as she fell in defeat to Catawba's Vanessa Silva 6-4, 7-6 (10-4).

The Indians swept the remaining singles matches and earned all three doubles wins as Catawba College handed WSSU their eighth consecutive loss of the season.

"We are winning more games now as our ladies steadily improve.  The experience level is increasing and as we gain experience, we gain knowledge and confidence.  Hopefully, with this experience we will record a win soon" WSSU head tennis coach Charlie Schoderbeck said.

The loss drops the Lady Rams to 0-8 on the season while Catawba improves to 2-2 overall. 

WSSU returns to action at 4:00 pm when they play host to the Eagles of North Carolina Central University at the WSSU Tennis Complex.

For additional information on WSSU women's tennis, contact the WSSU Office of Athletic Media Relations at (336) 750-2143 or log on to the Official Website of WSSU Athletics at WSSURams.com.

Tennis Match Results

Catawba College vs Winston-Salem State University

Feb 17, 2008 at Winston-Salem, NC

Catawba College 6, Winston-Salem State University 1

 Singles competition

1. Julia McKinzie (CATAWBA) def. Shannon Loughnan (WSSUW) 6-2, 6-1

2. Laken Joyce (WSSUW) def. Kasia Zielinski (CATAWBA) 6-4, 6-4

3. KT Rebadow (CATAWBA) def. Terese Lavan (WSSUW) 6-2, 6-1

4. Meri Cartmill (CATAWBA) def. Johanna Nunez (WSSUW) 7-5, 7-5

5. Vanessa Silva (CATAWBA) def. Gabrielle Benjamin (WSSUW) 6-4, 7-6 (4-0)

6. Nikiah Knox (CATAWBA) def. Jessica Smith (WSSUW) 6-2, 6-3

 Doubles competition

1. Kasia Zielinski/Julia McKinzie (CATAWBA) def. Shannon Loughnan/Laken Joyce (WSSUW) 8-6

2. KT Rebadow/Nikiah Knox (CATAWBA) def. Terese Lavan/Johanna Nunez (WSSUW) 8-2

3. Meri Cartmill/Vanessa Silva (CATAWBA) def. Gabrielle Benjamin/Jessica Smith (WSSUW) 8-2

Match Notes:

Catawba College 2-2

Winston-Salem State University 0-8