March 14, 2007

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - The University of Massachusetts women's tennis team (7-5, 1-0 Atlantic 10) fell to Harvard, 7-0 on Tuesday. UMass lost the doubles point after dropping two of three matches. Michele Spiess and Laura Murillo did team for a solid 8-2 third doubles win. The Minutewomen competed in singles, but struggled as they were unable to solve the Crimson.

Still experimenting with lineups, Head Coach Judy Dixon decided to mix things up in doubles. She kept the tandem of Masha Pozar and Maude Lecluyse together at No. 1. She put a pair of freshmen, Ellen de Jong and Dasa Stanimirovic, at No. 2. No. 3 featured last season's A-10 Player of the Year Michele Spiess and sophomore transfer Laura Murillo.

Harvard took No. 2 doubles, 8-3, but the Minutewomen wouldn't go down without a fight. Michele Spiess and Laura Murillo teamed for an impressive 8-2 victory to tie the score at one. At No. 1, Pozar and Lecluyse fell, 8-4. Harvard took the doubles point and a 1-0 lead.

In singles action, UMass couldn't solve a strong lineup. Two-time A-10 Player of the Week Michele Spiess fell 6-2, 6-0. Dasa Stanimirovic fell at No. 4 to make it 3-0 Harvard. Masha Pozar competed, but fell to Beier Ko, 6-2, 6-3.

Rookie sensation Ellen de Jong didn't fair any better, falling 6-2, 6-2 at No. 3. Maude Lecluyse continued her impressive player by grinding out a match at No. 5. She went neck and neck with Julia Forgie, but fell 6-4, 7-5. The day concluded with Laura Murillo falling to Vilsa Curto, 6-2, 6-4.

The Minutewomen look to get back on track as they travel to Flordia for a pair of matches next weekend. They play Lynn University on Monday followed by Flordia Atlantic on Tuesday. Please note that the Barry University match has been cancelled. Check back to www.umassathletics.com for complete results and recaps of the Florida road trip.

Doubles:
#1 Beier Ko/Lena Litvak (H) def. Masha Pozar/Maude Lecluyse (M) 8-4
#2 Preethi Munkandun/Elizabeth Brook (H) def. Ellen de Jong/Dasa Stanimirovic (M) 8-3
#3 Laura Murillo/Michele Spiess (M) def. Julia Forgie/Vilsa Curto (H), 8-2

Singles:
#1 Lena Litvak (H) def. Michele Spiess (M), 6-2, 6-0
#2 Beier Ko (H) def. Masha Pozar (M), 6-2, 6-3
#3 Preethi Mukundan (H) def. Ellen de Jong (M), 6-2, 6-2
#4 Elizabeth Brook (H) def. Dasa Stanimirovic (M), 6-0, 6-0
#5 Julia Forgie (H) def. Maude Lecluyse (M), 6-4, 7-5
#6 Vilsa Curto (H) def. Laura Murillo (M), 6-2, 6-4