Feb. 17, 2007

PROVIDENCE, R.I. - The University of Massachusetts women's tennis team (3-2) fell to Brown University in a hard-fought match on Saturday. Brown took the doubles point then four out of six singles matches to win 5-2. Masha Pozar was the player of the day for the Minutewomen as she won at No. 2 singles 7-6 (5) 7-5 and No. 2 doubles 8-3. The Minutemen enjoy five days off before they continue on the road on Friday at Dartmouth.

Brown, playing their second match on Saturday, came out strong in doubles. Michelle Pautler and Sara Mansur defeated Michele Spiess and Ellen de Jong 8-2. Masha Pozar and Maude Lecluyse evened doubles at one with their 8-3 win. Laura Murillo and Dasa Stanimirovic fell in a tight match at No. 3, 8-5.

In singles play, freshman Dasa Stanimirovic fell at No. 4. Ellen de Jong won at No. 3, 6-4, 6-4, to cut the deficit to one. Pozar evened the score at two with a gritty win at No. 2, 7-6 (7-5) 7-5. She found herself down late in both sets, but fought back to win.

Maude Lecluyse was up a set at No. 5 after winning 6-3. She struggled in the second set, before pulling out due to illness.

In a three hour marathon match, Michele Spiess fell in a classic to Daisy Ames. The match featured many twists and turns as Spiess was up a set after winning the first convincingly, 6-2. Ames fought back to force a third set. Spiess was up 1-0 in the third set before falling 6-4. Stephanie Gimenez completed the evening, falling in a tight contest at No. 6, 6-4, 7-5.

UMass has five days off before traveling to Dartmouth on Friday. They return home on Sunday, February 25, to host A-10 rival Fordham. The home match is scheduled to start at noon at the Bay Road Tennis Club on the campus of Hampshire College.

Doubles:
#1 Michelle Pautler/Sara Mansur (B) def. Michele Spiess/Ellen de Jong (UM) 8-2
#2 Masha Pozar/Maude Lecluyse (UM) def. Kelley Kirkpatrick/Emily Ellis (B) 8-3
#3 Daisy Ames/Alexa Baggio (B) def. Laura Murillo/Dasa Stanimirovic (UM) 8-5

Singles:
#1 Daisy Ames (B) def. Michele Spiess (UM) 2-6, 7-5, 6-4
#2 Masha Pozar (UM) def. Michelle Pautler (B) 7-6 (7-5) 7-5
#3 Ellen de Jong (UM) def. Sara Mansur (B) 6-4, 6-4
#4 Emily Ellis (B) def. Dasa Stanimirovic (UM)
#5 Alexa Baggio (B) def. Maude Lecluyse (UM) 6-3, 3-6, Default
#6 Tanja Vucetic (B) def. Stephanie Gimenez (UM) 6-4, 7-5