April 9, 2007

The UMass women's tennis team closes out the regular season this week as they travel to Quinnipiac on Wednesday before hosting Rhode Island on Friday. The Quinnipiac match will be at 3:00 p.m. Senior Michele Spiess will be looking to break the UMass Singles Wins Record. Friday's Senior Day match has been moved indoors to the Bay Road Tennis Club on the campus of Hampshire College. Spiess is the lone senior on this year's squad and will be honored prior to the match. The ceremonies will begin at approximately 7:30 in the evening, with the match to follow.

Series History With Quinnipiac
•Quinnipiac and UMass have met five times in the past with UMass holding a 4-1 series advantage.
•UMass won the last match, on April 12, 2006, 5-2

Scouting The Bobcats
•Quinnipiac sports a 7-4 record on the season.
•They are in the midst of a 3-match win streak including wins against Farleigh Dickinson 5-2, Monmouth (N.J.) 7-0, and Colgate 7-0.
•Other wins include Siena, Bucknell, Fordham, and Providence.
•Quinnipiac is 1-1 against common opponents, defeating Fordham and falling to Binghamton. UMass is 2-0 against those two teams.

Last Meeting: UMass Defeats Quinnipiac, 5-2
April 12, 2006
AMHERST, Mass.- The University of Massachusetts women's tennis team (11-8, 3-1 A-10) capped off an emotional day by defeating Quinnipiac University by a score of 5-2 Wednesday afternoon at the Upper Boyden Courts. It was senior day as Jana Bartoloni, Lesley Fisher, Dorothy Iwanowicz, and Susan Johnson were honored prior to the match. Once the festivities concluded, it was time to focus on tennis. The Minutewomen would not disappoint.

In doubles competition, Michele Spiess and Masha Pozar improved their record to 14-3. They defeated Gabby Pasternak and Tina Hoang in No. 1 doubles by a score of 8-5. Their effort was not enough as Quinnipiac won doubles Nos. 2 and 3 to take the point.

Despite finding themselves down 1-0, the Minutewomen knew they needed to win four out of the six singles matches. They responded by winning five out of the six singles matches to clinch the win. Michele Spiess improved to 21-3 in singles matches with a 6-3, 6-1 victory. Masha Pozar kept the success going by winning 6-4, 6-2 at No. 2 singles. Seniors Dorothy Iwanowicz and Jana Bartoloni were able to win at Nos. 4 and 6 respectively. The day finished with freshman Stephanie Gimenez winning a tight match in the third set, 6-2, 1-6, 10-8.

Even with the convincing win, the story was the seniors. Head Coach Judy Dixon knew it was going to be a special day. "We have twelve players on the team, four of which are seniors. Three out of our starting six (singles players) are seniors. The other is a team captain. It was very emotional. It was our only home match and our only chance to be seen."

Doubles:
#1 Michele Spiess/Masha Pozar (M) def. Gabby Pasternak/Tina Hoang (Q) 8-5
#2 Jackie Herb/Amanda Petruzzi (Q) def. Susan Johnson/Dorothy Iwanowicz (M) 8-6
#3 Danielle Rodriguez/Kasey Rosenberger (Q) def. Lesley Fisher/Kristin DiPiero (M) 8-2

Singles:
#1 Michele Spiess (M) def. Gabby Pasternak (Q) 6-3, 6-1
#2 Masha Pozar (M) def. Tina Hoang (Q) 6-4, 6-2
#3 Jackie Herb (Q) def. Susan Johnson (M) 6-4, 6-0
#4 Dorothy Iwanowicz (M) def. Jackie Visinski (Q) 6-1, 6-1
#5 Stephanie Gimenez (M) def. Amanda Petruzzi (Q) 6-2, 1-6, 10-8
#6 Jana Bartoloni (M) def. Danielle Rodriguez (Q) 6-3, 6-4

Series History With Rhode Island
•Rhode Island and UMass have met 38 times in the past with UMass holding a commanding 31-6-1 advantage.
•Heading into the season, the 38 meetings are tied for most all-time, tied with UConn.
•UMass shut out the Rams in the last match, on March 29, 2006, 7-0

Scouting The Rams
•Rhode Island own an impressive 13-3 record on the season.
•They went a perfect 3-0 in A-10 conference play, but all in the fall, defeating Fordham, Saint Joseph's, and La Salle.
•This is their first conference match of the spring season.
•Heading into the week, there are three common opponents. URI is 1-2, losing to Connecticut and Brown while defeating Fordham. UMass is 2-1, defeating Connecticut and Fordham, and losing to Brown.

Last Meeting: UMass Shuts Out Rhode Island, 7-0
March 29, 2006
KINGSTON, R.I.- The beginning of Atlantic 10 play signified a fresh beginning for the University of Massachusetts women's tennis team (6-6, 1-0 A-10). They responded by defeating the University of Rhode Island this afternoon, 7-0, in Kingston R.I.

The Minutewomen started strong in doubles, winning each match. Michele Spiess and Masha Pozar teamed up to win No. 1 doubles, 8-0. Susan Johnson and Jana Bartoloni paired to win No. 2 doubles, 9-7. Of note, senior Lesley Fisher got into her first action of the spring. She teamed with Kristin DiPiero to win No. 3 doubles, 8-2.

After winning the doubles point, the Minutewomen took care of business in singles competition. At No. 1 singles, Masha Pozar improved her dual match singles record to 11-4. Spiess continued the success by defeating her opponent at No. 2 singles, 6-1, 6-1. At No. 3 singles, Susan Johnson needed a third set to defeat her opponent 6-0, 6-7, 10-5. Dorothy Iwanowicz, Stephanie Gimenez, and Jana Bartoloni took down their opponents at Nos. 4, 5, and 6.

Doubles:
#1 Michele Spiess/Masha Pozar (M) def. Erin Fleming/Grace Hedstrom (R) 8-0
#2 Susan Johnson/Jana Bartoloni (M) def. Valerie Chacon/Jess Sims (R) 9-7
#3 Kristin DiPiero/Lesley Fisher (M) def. Haley Loewenthal/Emily Conant (R) 8-2

Singles:
#1 Masha Pozar (M) def. Valerie Chacon (R) 6-4, 6-0
#2 Michele Spiess (M) def. Erin Fleming (R) 6-1, 6-1
#3 Susan Johnson (M) def. Grace Hedstron (R) 6-0, 6-7, 10-5
#4 Dorothy Iwanowicz (M) def. Jess Sims (R) 6-1, 6-1
#5 Stephanie Gimenez (M) def. Haley Loewenthal (R) 6-0, 6-2
#6 Jana Bartoloni (M) def. Emily Conant (R) 6-3, 6-3

Chasing 63 ...
Senior Michele Spiess is looking to make history. Heading into the week at Quinnipiac and Rhode Island, she is tied with Jackie Braunstein for first all time in singles wins at UMass. If she gets the record, it would be in only three years. Keep track of her progress throughout the season by checking www.umassathletics.com.

Diversity Does Damage
Six Minutewomen reside outside the United States, and a seventh was born outside the states. They are: Ellen de Jong (Rotterdam, The Netherlands), Stephanie Gimenez (Sao Paulo, Brazil), Maude Lecluyse (Montreal, Quebec, Canada), Masha Pozar (Ljubljana, Slovenia), Michele Spiess (Stuttgart, Germany), and Dasa Stanimirovic (Novi Sad, Serbia Montenegro). Also, Laura Murillo was born in Colombia, but resides in Holyoke, Massachusetts.

Pozar Turning It Up
•Junior Masha Pozar has turned it up of late, winning four singles matches in a row and eight of her last nine.
•She started her hot streak on February 25 vs. Fordham and hasn't looked back.

Great Rookie Campaign For de Jong
•Freshman Ellen de Jong (Rotterdam, The Netherlands) has put together quite an impressive rookie resume.
•In her first season of collegiate tennis, she has a 11-10 record in singles and a 14-9 record in doubles.
•She has already won A-10 Rookie of the Week two times.
•She has proved to be a solid option at the No. 3 singles spot behind co-captains Michele Spiess and Masha Pozar.

Statement Win
• March 19 proved to be a memorable day for the tennis team as they pulled off one of the best wins in school history. The Minutewomen defeated Lynn University 5-4.
•It was the program's first win against Lynn, as they were 0 for their first 7 coming in. Lynn was ranked No. 3 in the nation at the Division II level and featured many of the top players in the nation.
•The following day, UMass won convincingly, 5-2, over Florida Atlantic.

Last Time Out: Women's Tennis Falls To Richmond, 5-2
March 31, 2007
RICHMOND, Va.-The University of Massachusetts women's tennis team (9-7, 1-1 Atlantic 10) dropped their second straight match on Saturday morning. They fell to the University of Richmond, 5-2. Like Friday vs. Old Dominion, Saturday featured numerous matches that went down to the wire. UMass took the doubles point after wins at Nos. 1 and 3. For the second consecutive day, Masha Pozar was the only Minutewoman to come out on top in singles play.

It looked like the Minutewomen would be on their way to an upset after doubles action. Co-captains Michele Spiess and Masha Pozar were reunited at No. 1. It worked as they defeated Beatrice Grasu and Robin Carter, 8-4. At No. 2, Ellen de Jong and Stephanie Gimenez fell by the same score, 8-4. Maude Lecluyse and Laura Murillo were teamed for the first time all season. It worked wonders as they won convincingly at No. 3, 8-2, to clinch the doubles point.

Michele Spiess was on her way to earning the UMass singles wins record, but a great performance by 68th nationally ranked Pamela Duran spoiled the effort. Spiess was up 6-4 after one set. Duran won the second set 7-6 and 7-1 in the tiebreaker. A tiebreaker was played in the third set, with Duran coming out on top 10-3.

Masha Pozar completed a tremendous weekend by defeating Robin Carter at No. 2, 6-4, 6-1. She went a perfect 2-0 on the weekend against two of the best teams in the nation. UMass dropped Nos. 3 through 6, including a competitive duel at No. 5. Stephanie Gimenez won the first set, but ended up losing at No. 5, 3-6, 7-5, 6-2.

Doubles:
#1 Michele Spiess/Masha Pozar (UM) def. Beatrice Grasu/Robin Carter (R) 8-4
#2 Pamela Duran/Ashlee Vosters (R) def. Ellen de Jong/Stephanie Gimenez (UM) 8-4
#3 Maude Lecluyse/Laura Murillo (UM) def. Jessica Hubbard/Jelena Zivanovic (R) 8-2

Singles:
#1 Pamela Duran (R) def. Michele Spiess (UM) 4-6, 7-6 (7-1) (10-3)
#2 Masha Pozar (UM) def. Robin Carter (R) 6-2, 7-6 (7-5)
#3 Beatrice Grasu (R) def. Ellen de Jong (UM) 6-4, 6-1
#4 Ashlee Vosters (R) def. Maude Lecluyse (UM) 6-0, 6-2
#5 Xenia Schneider (R) def. Stephanie Gimenez (UM) 3-6, 7-5,6-2
#6 Jessica Hubbard (R) def. Laura Murillo (UM) 6-0, 6-3

A Look Back To The Last Home Match: Women's Tennis Opens Conference Play With Solid 6-1 Win Over Fordham
February 25, 2007
AMHERST, Mass.- The University of Massachusetts women's tennis team (4-3, 1-0 A-10) opened up Atlantic 10 Conference play with a solid 6-1 win over Fordham on Sunday. The Minutewomen took the doubles point after winning Nos. 2 and 3. They then took five out of six singles matches to earn their fourth victory of the season.

The day started with Michele Spiess and Ellen de Jong winning easily at No. 2 doubles. They beat Martina Featherston and Doina Sandor 8-2. Masha Pozar and Maude Lecluyse found themselves up at No. 1, but Fordham came back to take it, 8-6. It was down to No. 3 doubles. Laura Murillo and Kristin DiPiero were able to pull off a gritty 8-6 win over Lisa Vulin and Elizabeth Stall.

In singles play, freshman Ellen de Jong continued her great start to her career by winning, 6-2, 6-0. Fellow freshman Maude Lecluyse then beat Martina Featherston at No. 5 to push the UMass lead to 3-0. Stephanie Gimenez clinched the victory for the Minutewomen with her 6-1, 6-2 victory at No. 6.

Senior Michele Spiess lost only her second match of the spring at No. 1 to make it 4-1 UMass. Spiess found herself down a set, but battled back to force a tiebreak in the second set. Masha Pozar controlled play at No. 2, 6-4, 6-0. Dasa Stanimirovic closed out the afternoon by grinding out a 6-2, 7-5 win.

Doubles:
#1 Dominique Liguori/Ellenoira Featherston (F) def. Masha Pozar/Maude Lecluyse (M) 8-6
#2 Michele Spiess/Ellen de Jong (M) def. Martina Featherston/Doina Sandor (F) 8-2
#3 Laura Murillo/Kristin DiPiero (M) def. Lisa Vulin/Elizabeth Stall (F) 8-6

Singles:
#1 Dominique Liguori (F) def. Michele Spiess (M) 6-0, 7-6 (7-5)
#2 Masha Pozar (M) def. Ellenoira Featherston (F) 6-4, 6-0
#3 Ellen de Jong (M) def. Doina Sandor (F) 6-2, 6-0
#4 Dasa Stanimirovic (M) def. Lisa Vulin (F) 6-2, 7-5
#5 Maude Lecluyse (M) def. Martina Featherston (F) 6-3, 6-3
#6 Stephanie Gimenez (M) def. Elizabeth Stall (F) 6-1, 6-2