Sunday, February 9, 2003

Troy State beats short-handed FIU, 4-3

laying under threatening skies on a neutral court, a severe ankle injury to FIU's Davina Duronio forced No. 44-ranked FIU to forfeit two points in dropping a 4-3 decision to unranked Troy State Sunday in Mobile, Ala.

Duronio and Troy State's Laura Alarcon were tied 5-5 in the first set when the FIU freshman apparently sprained her ankle and was carried off the courts. She could not return to action.

Despite her absence, wins by Golden Panthers Bruna Discordia, Christine Suard and Courtney Jonson picked up three of the five singles points. But with the scored tied 3-3 after singles play, the doubles point decided the outcome of the match.

FIU's Mei Li and Discordia beat Troy's Mariana Melo and Carolina Aravena, 9-7, at No. 1, but without the services of Duronio, FIU's patchwork No. 2 doubles team of Suard and Desanka Jovanovic fell to Troy's Laura Alarcon and Luisa Lopez, 8-6. With No. 3 doubles forfeited, the Trojans won the point and the match.

The Golden Panthers open their 2003 spring home schedule next Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 15-16, at the University Park tennis courts against No. 37 Harvard and Stetson.

Final: Troy State 4, No. 44-FIU 3 Mobile, Ala. Doubles 1. Li/Discordia (FIU) def. Melo/Aravena (TSU), 9-7 2. Alacon/Lopez (TSU) def. Suard/Jovanovic (FIU), 8-6 3. FIU forfeit (injury) Singles 1. Luisa Lopez (TSU) def. Mei Li (FIU) 6-3, 6-2 2. Carolina Aravena (TSU) def. Desanka Jovanovic (FIU) 6-0, 7-6 3. Bruna Discordia (FIU) def. Mariana Melo (TSU) 6-0, 6-1 4. Laura Alarcon (TSU) def. Davina Duronio (FIU) 5-5, injured 5. Christine Suard (FIU) def. Emma Heffernan (TSU) 6-0, 6-2 6. Courtney Jonson (FIU) def. Trena Lee (TSU) 6-2, 7-5