Sept. 19, 2004

WEST POINT, N.Y. -- Women's tennis sophomore Michele Spiess won the No. 1 singles title at the Eastern Collegiate Invitational played at the The Lichtenberg and Malek Tennis Centers at the United States Military Academy. Also victorious were the doubles tandems of Sasha Edelstein and Dorothy Iwanowicz at No. 1 and Susan Johnson and Kristin DiPiero at No. 2.

Spiess, seeded fourth, upended fifth-seeded Christine Ong of Army in straight sets, 6-3, 6-2, to claim the No. 1 singles title. She did not lose a set the entire weekend as she breezed through the top singles flight. Spiess, a transfer from the University of Louisville, lost only 13 games in her 16 sets.

In No. 3 singles, junior Jana Bartoloni (Quincy, Mass.) lost to top-seeded Kristina Bothova, 4-8, in the championship match of the consolation bracket. Bartoloni, the second-seed, had been upset on the first day, but battled back through the consolation bracket.

At No. 1 doubles, the tandem of Edelstein and Iwanowicz upset top-seeded Marissa Limsiaco and Megan Noble of Army, 8-3 to win the championship. The two won their combined matches in the tournament by a score of 32-11. Edelstein and Iwanowicz knocked off Iva Gyurgina and Jennifer Seide of Seton Hall, 8-1, in the semifinals.

In No. 2 doubles, Johnson and DiPiero upset top-seeded Diana Alquero and Amanda Paluch of Army, 8-3. The duo won their matches over the weekend by a combined score of 32-9. They defeated third-seeded Christine Bicksler and Pam Chavez of Army, 8-1, in the semifinals.

Massachusetts will host Amherst College on Tuesday, Sept. 21 in its only home dual match of the fall season. The match will begin at 4:00 p.m. and be held at the Upper Boyden Courts.