Women's Tennis Underway At Wolverine Invitational

Oct. 3, 2003

ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Four members of the Michigan State women's tennis team completed day one at the Wolverine Invitational Friday. The four members combined for a 3-4 record in singles play, and the foursome combined for a perfect 3-0 record in doubles action.

Senior Caroline Lay (Brisbane, Australia) was the only Spartan to win her opening singles match. Lay defeated Marquette's Veronica Briseno in the opening round of the "Blue" singles flight, 6-3, 6-4, before losing to Liz Exon of Michigan, 6-3, 6-4, in the quarterfinals.

Also in the "Blue" flight, sophomore Shelley Brady (Grand Blanc, Mich.) lost her first match to Lisa Maloney of Bowling Green, 7-5, 6-1, before rebounding to beat Samantha Liu of Cincinnati, 6-2, 6-2, in the consolation bracket.

In the "Maize" singles flight, freshman Sarah Andrews (Darwin, Australia) dropped a 6-3, 6-2 decision to Michigan's Debra Strifler in the opening round, but bounced back for a 7-6 (4), 6-4 victory over Cincinnati's Julie Klauck in the consolation bracket.

MSU's fourth team member, junior Karen Gustafson (East Lansing, Mich.) had a first-round by in the "Wolverine" singles bracket, but fell in the quarterfinals to Jill Klauck of Cincinnati in three games, 4-6, 6-3, 10-3.

The Spartans fared much better in doubles play, winning all three contests. Brady and Gustafson blanked the Loranzo and Doran team from Cincinnati, 8-0, in the first round, and advanced to the quarterfinals with a 9-7 win over Exon and Plaushines from Michigan. Meanwhile, after a first-round bye, Lay and Andrews disposed of Hiranrant and Remynse of Western Michigan, 8-4, to also reach the quarterfinals.

Action at the Wolverine Invitational continues through Sunday.