Feb. 4, 2007

AMHERST, Mass. - Super Sunday is the name given for Super Bowl Sunday. Fittingly, the day proved super for the University of Massachusetts women's tennis team. Led by senior Michele Spiess and freshman Ellen de Jong, the Minutewomen controlled play, defeating the University of Albany 6-1. Albany only traveled five players, which forced them to forfeit No. 6 singles and No. 3 doubles. UMass took both doubles matches and four out of the five singles matches to take home their first season-opening victory since 2005.

Doubles play proved to be a task the Minutewomen were up to. Co-Captain Michele Spiess teamed with freshman Ellen de Jong to shut out Aimee Kern and Christina Suarez of Albany, 8-0. Co-Captain Masha Pozar and freshman Maude Lecluyse did the same to Kim Westcott and Kim Weltman.

The success for UMass continued in singles play. Michele Spiess and Ellen de Jong, at Nos. 1 and 2, both won their matches quickly and convincingly. Spiess won 6-0, 6-1 and de Jong won 6-0, 6-2. The victory propelled Spiess to 54 career singles wins at UMass, now only one away from tying Ola Gerasimova for fourth place in UMass history.

Freshman Maude Lecluyse fought a tough battle at No. 3, but fell 7-6 (7-2) 6-4. Freshman Dasa Stanimirovic grinded out a solid 6-3, 7-5 victory at No. 4. Stephanie Gimenez fought back from an early whole to win in straight sets, 6-3, 6-1.

The Minutewomen improve to 2-0 on the young season, the other win being their 4-3 victory over UConn in the fall. The Minutewomen return to action next weekend, hosting Columbia on Saturday and St. John's on Sunday. Both matches will be played at 12 noon at the Bay Road Tennis Club, on the campus of Hampshire College.

Doubles:
#1 Michele Spiess/Ellen de Jong (UMass) def. Aimee Kern/Christina Suarez (Albany) 8-0
#2 Masha Pozar/Maude Lecluyse (UMass) def. Kim Westcott/Kim Weltman (Albany) 8-0
#3 UMass wins due to forfeit (not enough players on Albany)

Singles:
#1 Michele Spiess (UMass) def. Aimee Kern (Albany) 6-0, 6-1
#2 Ellen de Jong (UMass) def. Christina Suarez (Albany) 6-0, 6-2
#3 Kim Weltman (Albany) def. Maude Lecluyse (UMass) 7-6 (7-2) 6-4
#4 Dasa Stanimirovic (UMass) def. Amanda Hall (Albany) 6-3, 7-5
#5 Stephanie Gimenez (UMass) def. Kim Westcott (Albany) 6-3, 6-1
#6 UMass wins due to forfeit (not enough players on Albany)