Women's Tennis Finishes Third at BIG EAST Tournament

Sunday, April 23

Tampa, Fla.

9:00 AM

University of Louisville

DePaul (Third Place)

April 23, 2006 | Women's Tennis

April 23, 2006

Despite dropping the doubles point, the University of Louisville women's tennis team battled back to a 4-2 win to finish third in the Cardinals' first BIG EAST Championship at the Varsity Courts of USF in Tampa.

The Cardinals finish their season at 23-7, setting the school record for wins in a season, set in 2002, Coach Greg Davis' first year. The third place finish also ties a school record high finish in a conference championship also set in 2002.

"It was a great job for our team to beat a tough, tough DePaul team, said Davis. "DePaul is one of the top teams in the conference with a tremendous work ethic and blue collar mentality that makes them very hard to beat."

No. 3 Louisville secured a third place finish with a win over No. 4 DePaul, 4-2, which finished fourth. The Cardinals fell behind early when they dropped the doubles point. Bianca Gorbea and Natalia Baez were edged 8-6 at No. 2. Natalie Laszkowski and Suzanna Gracanin were ousted 8-2. The No. 1 pair of Robyn White and Maria Klokotzky doggedly held on until being nipped 9-7.

"We lost the doubles point and had to push to come back and win four singles. It was a tremendous achievement for the ladies," said Davis. "One of our goals was to break the school record for wins. Their achievements through ups and downs and staying focused speaks volumes for their efforts this season."

Klokotzky fell 6-1, 7-6 at No. 1 singles to Beatrix Csordas but Robyn White muscled her way to a win at No. 2, beating Gergana Ganeva 6-3, 7-5. Gracanin easily held off Anja Mihaldinec 6-3, 6-3 at No. 4. The unflappable Laszkowski dropped her first set 4-6 and then roared back to a 6-0, 6-2 win over Bojana Murisic at No. 5. Natalia Baez clinched the match with a 7-5, 6-4 win over Petra Ruhusova at No. 6.

No. 3 Louisville def. No. 4 DePaul, 4-2Doubles
1. Beatrix Csordas/Gergana Ganeva (DU) def. Robyn White/Maria Kloktzky (LOU) - 9-7*2. Dunja Antunovic/Anja Mihaldinec (DU) def. Bianca Gorbea/Natalia Baez (LOU) - 8-63. Petra Rehusova/Brenda Leung (LOU) def. Natalie Laszkowski/Suzanna Gracanin (DU) - 8-2
 Singles1. Beatrix Csordas (DU) def. Maria Klokotzky (LOU) - 6-1, 7-6 (1)2. Robyn White (LOU) def. Gergana Ganeva (DU) - 6-3, 7-53. Dunja Antunovic (DU) vs. Bianca Gorbea (LOU) - 6-3, 3-6, 5-4 (DNF)4. Suzanna Gracanin (LOU) def. Anja Mihaldinec (DU) - 6-3, 6-35. Natalie Laszkowski (LOU) def. Bojana Murisic (DU) - 4-6, 6-0, 6-26. Natalia Baez (LOU) def. Petra Rehusova (DU) - 7-5, 6-4*