March 1, 2008

RUSTON, La. - The Louisiana Tech tennis team lost its second home match of the season to Arkansas State on Saturday. The Lady Techsters were swept 7-0 and the doubles matches were highly competitive.

The No. 1 team of Ada Makowska and Rocio Juarez battled with ASU's Renee Branker and Emily Laing in an 8-5 marathon match. In the No. 2 match Alexandra Gaspar and Ashley Wedderburn fought to an 8-4 loss against Maria Oprea and Paula Chelminska.

Makowska continues to fight in her matches and battled in a three-set match with Menna Kamal before falling in the No. 4 singles match. Makowska claimed the first set 7-6 (9-7). The team match had been decided at that point and the rest of the match was played in 10-point quick sets for time. Makowska and Kamal went back and forth in the second and third set before Kamal claimed each 10-7 to come back and get the win.

"Ada continues to play very well," said Tech coach Quintin Yray. "She is working hard in practice and battling on the court. I'm proud of the effort she and the other girls put in today's match. Arkansas State has a talented team, and we played them very tough in doubles."

In the No. 1 singles match, Wedderburn fell 6-1, 6-0 to Oprea, and Gaspar fell 6-0, 6-2 to Chelminska. ASU's Rone van Wyk defeated Juarez 6-1, 6-0 in the No. 3 match, and Mallory Smith lost 6-1, 6-1 to Branker.

The match is ASU's (6-5) second win in a row after defeating UL-Monroe on Friday. Tech (1-10) will travel to take on Arkansas-Little Rock at 2 p.m. Sunday before returning home to face Grambling State next Friday.

Results Doubles 1: Branker/Laing def. Makowska/Juarez 8-5 2: Oprea/Chelmiska def. Gaspar/Wedderburn 8-4 3: van Wyk/Leydi Zora def. Tech by Default

Singles 1: Oprea def. Wedderburn 6-1, 6-0 2: Chelminska def. Gaspar 6-0, 6-2 3: van Wyk def. Juarez 6-1, 6-0 4: Kamal def. Makowska 6-7 (9-7), 10-7, 10-7 5: Branker def. Smith 6-1, 6-1 6: Zora def. Tech by Default