Friday, February 21, 2003

Golden Panthers downed by No. 75 Florida Atlantic

lorida Atlantic University, ranked No. 75 in the nation, held off FIU on the way to posting a 4-3 victory Friday afternoon in Boca Raton.

FAU started the match off by winning the doubles point and taking an early 1-0 lead. Jessica Burrow and Maria Aguire-Gomez coasted to an 8-3 win at No. 2 over Davina Duronio and Desanka Jovanovic, while Alena Dvorakova teamed with Korolina Roubickova for a victory at No. 1 against Bruna Discordia and Mei Ly. FIU's lone victory came at No. 3 where Christine Suard and Courtney Jonson defeated Tania Rivera and Stephanie Beaulieu.

In singles, Dvorakova quickly defeated Jovanovic at No. 1, 6-1, 6-2. Then Krystel Borg followed with a win at no. 5. Suddenly, FAU was up 3-0, but the No. 64-ranked Golden Panthers (2-6) fought back.

FIU won the next two matches with Ly winning at No. 2, 6-3, 6-4, over Roubickova and Jonson's 6-2, 4-6, 7-5 win over Burrow at No. 6, pulling within 3-2.

But Aguirre-Gomez secured the match for the Owls with a win at No. 3. After dropping the first set 3-6, Aguirre-Gomez stormed back to win the second set 6-1. Then in the third set, Aguirre-Gomez and Discordia battled to a 6-6 tie before Aguirre-Gomez won the tie break in 5.

The Golden Panthers return to the courts this Sunday at home with an 11 a.m. match against the University of South Florida.

Final: No. 75 Florida Atlantic 4, No. 64 FIU 3 Boca Raton, Fla. Doubles 1. Dvorakova/Roubickova (FAU) def. Discordia/Ly (FIU) 8-6. 2. Aguirre-Gomez/Burrow (FAU) def. Duronio/Jovanovic (FIU) 8-3. 3. Suard/Jonson (FIU) def. Rivera/Stephanie Beaulieu (FAU) 9-7 Singles 1. Alena Dvorakova (FAU) def. Desanka Jovanovic (FIU) 6-1, 6-2. 2. Mei Ly (FIU) def. Korolina Roubickova (FAU) 6-3, 6-4. 3. Maria Aguire-Gomez (FAU) def. Bruna Discordia (FIU) 3-6, 6-1, 7-6. 4. Christine Suard (FIU) def. Tania Rivera (FAU) 6-3, 6-4. 5. Krystel Borg (FAU) def. Davina Duronio (FIU) 6-2, 6-3. 6. Courtney Jonson (FIU) def. Jessica Burrow (FAU) 6-2, 4-6, 7-5.