Saturday, February 8, 2003

No. 33 Alabama proves too much for FIU

he 33rd ranked University of Alabama women's tennis team defeated the 44th ranked Florida International Golden Panthers 6-1 on Saturday in Mobile, Ala. The Crimson Tide moved to 5-0 on the season as the Golden Panthers dropped to 1-3.

Alabama jumped out to a 1-0 lead by winning all three doubles matches. At No. 1, Millie Begovic and Nathalie Koppelle won 8-5 over Florida International's Mei Ly and Bruna Discordia.

The Crimson Tide then won five of the six singles matches to claim the victory. The Golden Panthers picked up their lone point at No. 5 where Davina Duronio took a 3-6, 6-2, 6-1 come-from-behind victory over Nathalie Koppelle.

Alabama's 71st ranked Begovic clinched the match with her 7-6, 6-2 win over the Golden Panthers' Ly at No. 1 singles.

Final: No. 33 Alabama 6, No. 44 FIU 1 Mobile, Ala. Doubles 1. Begovic/ Koppelle (UA) def. Ly/Discordia (FIU) 8-5 2. Cremers/Bentley (UA) def. Duronio/Jovanovic (FIU) 8-5 3. Melissa Minor/Lord-Andrade (UA) def. Suard/Jonson (FIU) 8-5 Singles 1. No. 71 Millie Begovic (UA) def. Mei Ly (FIU) 7-6, 6-2 2. Sophie Cremers (UA) def. Bruna Discordia (FIU) 4-6, 6-1, 6-2 3. Marie-France Lord-Andrade (UA) def. Desanka Jovanovic (FIU) 6-3, 2-6, 11-9 4. Ashley Bentley (UA) def. Christine Suard (FIU) 6-1, 6-3 5. Davina Duronio (FIU) def. Nathalie Koppelle (UA) 3-6, 6-2, 6-1 6. Natalie McElveen (UA) def. Courtney Jonson (FIU) 6-0, 5-7, 10-4