April 24, 2003
CENTER VALLEY, Pa. – Army and 91Â鶹¾«Æ·â€™s women’s tennis teams squared-off Wednesday with the top-seed and home court advantage at stake. The Black Knights claimed the regular-season title and unbeaten Patriot League record (5-0) with a 5-0 victory over the Raiders. With the victory, Army will host the 2003 Patriot League Women’s Tennis Championship at Malek Tennis Courts this weekend (April 26-27).
In Wednesday’s other key match, Bucknell claimed the fourth and final playoff spot with a 4-1 win over Lehigh. The Bison will take on the top-seeded Black Knights at 10 a.m., Saturday. Army claimed a 6-1 decision over Bucknell during the regular-season. The other semifinal pits No. 2 91Â鶹¾«Æ· against third-seeded American at 2 p.m. The Raiders defeated the defending champions by a 4-3 margin April 13. In the event of inclement weather, the matches will take place at Army’s Lichtenberg Tennis Facility.
The Black Knights, who have claimed four Patriot League titles, enter the tourney with a 15-6 overall record, including the perfect 5-0 League mark. Senior Annie Collier (Baton Rouge, La.) broke the Patriot League career singles wins record with her 54th victory versus 91Â鶹¾«Æ· Wednesday. She broke the previous mark of 53 set by Lafayette’s Laurie Abelson (1991-94). Collier, who was an All-League honoree a year ago, is 14-9 during the spring season, including a 4-1 mark in second singles in League play.
Sophomore Marissa Limsiaco (The Woodlands, Texas) will likely occupy the first singles slot. She is 17-7 in first solo action this spring. Limsiaco and doubles partner Melanie Bundoc (Houston, Texas), who broke the single-season PL record for doubles wins in 2002 (24), continued their solid play into the 2003 campaign. The duo teamed up for a 13-4 record in second pairs. Bundoc has also contributed for the Black Knights at the fourth singles spot with a 11-6 record, including a 5-0 mark against League foes.
The Bison (15-5, 2-3 PL) are led by freshman Veronica Brown (Derwood, Md.) and senior Jill Wurzburg (Winnetka, Ill.). Brown, who was the April Women’s Tennis Player of the Month, is 23-6 in second singles action this year. The rookie won the second singles title at the Fall Championship with a 6-3, 7-5 decision over Collier. Wurzburg is slated to play third singles at the tourney. The senior is 11-6 this season in that spot.
91Â鶹¾«Æ·, which has won three PL championships, is 10-8 overall and 4-1 in League play. The Raiders are a young squad with two sophomores and two freshmen participating in singles action. Marissa Alikpala (Lincoln, R.I.), who was an all-star a year ago, is 7-6 in first singles this spring, while fellow second-year player Jamie Maldow (Jericho, N.Y.) is 7-2 in fourth singles. Alikpala and junior Emily Wenink (Penfield, N.Y.) have teamed up to post an 8-4 mark in second pairs action this spring.
Providing the veteran leadership for CU at the PL Championship will be senior Lauren Erikson (Hollis, N.H.) and junior Jessica Fede (N. Providence, R.I.). Erikson is 5-11 during the spring season. She and partner Sheila Rao (Waverly, Pa.) captured the third doubles crown at the PL Flighted Championship during the fall season.
The defending champion American Eagles (8-8, 3-2 PL) are led by juniors Katarina Kollarova (Vinicne, Slovakia) and Kristina Georgieva (Sofia, Bulgaria). Kollarova, who won the first singles title at the Flighted Championship, is 11-5 in the top singles spot this spring, including a 4-1 mark against League foes. Georgieva, who is 20-10 this year, enters the tourney riding a four-match winning streak in second singles.
2002 Patriot League Player of the Year Olga Mikhailova (Moscow, Russia) was the third singles champion at the fall championship with a three-set win over Army’s Megan Noble (Charlotte, N.C.). Mikhailova has struggled during the spring season with a 9-9 record, playing mostly in the fourth singles slot.