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Newcomers Make Big Impact At BG

Newcomers Make Big Impact At BG

Sept. 21, 2008

Contact: Dana Ingraham

BOWLING GREEN, Ohio -- The streak continues for the CSU women's tennis team as they once again went undefeated in doubles play as part of a solid first day performance at the Bowling Green State University Invitational.

The Vikings swept their doubles matches in all four flights on Saturday, earning each team a spot in the semifinal matches to be played Sunday. Combinations were slightly tweaked from last weekend's tournament in Detroit, but the new partners played well together and made their presence known.

At the No. 3 spot Sanda Bjelan and Myra Pepino defeated Erin Weldon and Sophie Sjoberg-Sundstrom of Detroit, 8-1, and Denisa Muntean and Molly Drake handled Xavier's Catherine Starr and Kaitlyn Zinn, 8-4, at No. 4.

"Our doubles got off to another really good start," said head coach Brian Etzkin. "Today we had a chance to look at some different combinations, and even though we know this won't last forever, it's still nice to keep a clean slate and stay unbeaten."

CSU saw comparable success in the singles flights as well. Four out of the seven Vikings who competed in singles play advanced to Sunday's finals, and one will be playing for third place.

Freshman Catrine Bjerrehus, who was selected as Horizon League Player of the Week for her efforts in Detroit, continued her individual unbeaten streak at No. 3 singles. Bjerrehus defeated Samantha Kintzel of Bowling Green 6-2, 7-5, and familiar opponent Aneta Maricevic of Detroit 6-4, 6-1 to advance to the finals.

Sophomore transfer Myra Pepino won two hard fought matches at the No. 5 spot to advance to the final match against BG's Libby Harrison.

Doubles partners Molly Drake and Denisa Muntean won both of their singles matches as well, taking each of them to the final match in their individual flights.

It is notable that three of these four Vikings who will be playing for the singles title in their respective flights are newcomers - two freshmen and a transfer - and these players have already proven to be a force in the lineup early in the season.

"It is great to see the new members of our team coming in and making a difference right away," Etzkin said. "We had a really good first day effort today which will hopefully continue into tomorrow."

Melissa Holzinger was forced to withdraw from the tournament due to injury and was not able to compete at No. 2 singles.

Tournament play resumes Sunday at 9:00 a.m. with two rounds of doubles followed by the final round of singles matches.

2008 Bowling Green Invitational
First Day Results

Doubles Flight "1"
Gibbons/Bjerrehus (CSU) def. Dandik/Young (Cincinnati), 8-6
(Gibbons/Bjerrehus advance to semi-finals on Sunday)

Doubles Flight "2"
Holzinger/Tabb (CSU) def. Baronayte/Gombera (YSU), 8-3
(Holzinger/Tabb advance to semi-finals on Sunday)

Doubles Flight "3"
Bjelan/Pepino (CSU) def. Weldon/Sjoberg-Sundstrom (Detroit), 8-1
(Bjelan/Pepino advance to semi-finals on Sunday)

Doubles Flight "4"
Muntean/Drake (CSU) def. Starr/Zinn (Xavier), 8-4
(Muntean/Drake advance to semi-finals on Sunday)

Singles Flight "1"
Zaruhi Harutyunyan (Akron) def. Charlotte Gibbons (CSU), 6-0, 6-3
Charlotte Gibbons (CSU) def. Amanda Dibbs (Eastern Ill.), 7-5, 1-0 ret.

Singles Flight "2"
Melissa Holzinger (CSU) withdrew from tournament due to injury.

Singles Flight "3"
Catrine Bjerrehus (CSU) def. Samantha Kintzel (BGSU), 6-2, 7-5
Catrine Bjerrehus (CSU) def. Aneta Maricevic (Detroit), 6-4, 6-1
(Bjerrehus to play Eastern Illinois' Juliana Frey in championship match on Sunday)

Singles Flight "4"
Jeanette Feider (Xavier) def. Jackie Tabb (CSU), 6-1, 6-2
Jackie Tabb (CSU) def. Elizabeth Young (Cincinnati), 6-1, 6-1

Singles Flight "5"
Myra Pepino (CSU) def. Jill Ducro (Xavier), 6-3, 3-6, 6-3
Myra Pepino (CSU) def. Kerry Langworthy (Akron), 6-1, 7-5
(Pepino to play Bowling Green's Libby Harrison in championship match on Sunday)

Singles Flight "6"
Denisa Muntean (CSU) def. Abby Allgire (Eastern Ill.) 6-3 ret.
Denisa Muntean (CSU) def. Stefanie Menoff (BGSU), 6-4, 6-1
(Muntean to play Xavier's Kelsey Kinnard in championship match on Sunday)

Singles Flight "7"
Sanda Bjelan (CSU) def. Abby Mayo (Cincinnati), 6-0, 6-0
Christie Pleiman (Xavier) def. Sanda Bjelan (CSU), 6-2, 4-6, 6-1

Singles Flight "8"
Molly Drake (CSU) def. Carrie Larson (Eastern Ill.), 6-4, 6-1
Molly Drake (CSU) def. Catherine Starr (Xavier), 6-4, 7-5
(Drake to play Eastern Illinois' Shannon Brooks in championship match on Sunday)