Jan. 31, 2003

Tuscaloosa, Ala.-- The No. 34 WSU women's tennis team fell 7-0 to the No. 38 Alabama Crimson Tide Friday in the Cougars' first dual match of the season.

WSU's Nora Gaal and Zsofi Fodor were the lone bright spot for the Cougars as they defeated UA's Natalie McElveen and Nathalie Koppelle 8-5 at number three doubles. But the Crimson Tide went up 1-0 after winning two of the three doubles matches. At number one doubles, Alabama's 38th ranked duo of Millie Begovic and Robin Stephenson defeated Washington State's 45th ranked Lorena Arias and Chris Martinez 8-6. The Tide's Sophie Cremers and Ashley Bentley won 8-3 at number two doubles over the Cougars' Orsolya Sallai and Anna Stefanchuk.

Cremers put Bama up 2-0 with her 6-2, 6-3 victory over Washington State's Gaal at number three singles. The Tide's Marie-France Lord-Andrade then won 6-4, 6-2 over the Cougars' Martinez at number four singles. UA's 71st ranked Begovic clinched the match for Alabama defeating WSU's 79th ranked Arias 6-7, 6-3, 6-2 at number one singles. At number two singles, Alabama's Stephenson defeated Washington State's Sallai 6-0, 4-6, 7-6. UA's Koppelle won 7-5, 6-1 over WSU's Fodor at number six singles. At number five singles, Alabama's Bentley defeated Washington State's Stefanchuk 6-4, 5-7, 1-0. Bentley won the third set 10-6 in a tie-breaker.

The Cougars are now 0-1 overall, while the Crimson Tide improved to 3-0.

The Cougars will stay in Tuscaloosa and play Penn State Saturday at noon.

Results:
Doubles
1. No. 38 Begovic/Stephenson (UA) def. No. 45 Arias/Martinez (WSU) 8-6
2. Cremers/Bentley (UA) def. Sallai/Stefanchuk (WSU) 8-3
3. Gaal/Fodor (WSU) def. Natalie McElveen/Koppelle (UA) 8-5

Singles
1. No. 71 Millie Begovic (UA) def. No. 79 Lorena Arias (WSU) 6-7(5), 6-3,
6-2
2. Robin Stephenson (UA) def. Orsolya Sallai (WSU) 6-0, 4-6, 7-6(0)
3. Sophie Cremers (UA) def. Nora Gaal (WSU) 6-2, 6-3
4. Marie-France Lord-Andrade (UA) def. Chris Martinez (WSU) 6-4, 6-2
5. Ashley Bentley (UA) def. Annabel Stefanchuk (WSU) 6-4, 5-7, 1-0(10-6)
6. Nathalie Koppelle (UA) def. Zsofi Fodor (WSU) 7-5, 6-1