Women's Tennis Takes Down South Florida 4-3

Friday, February 22

Louisville, Ky.

6:00 PM

University of Louisville

USF

February 22, 2008 | Women's Tennis

Feb. 22, 2008

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - - The University of Louisville women's tennis team posted a 4-3 win over BIG EAST opponent No. 30 South Florida in a four hour match Friday evening at the Bass-Rudd Tennis Center. The Cardinals improve to 5-3 on the season while USF drops to 7-4.

"Obviously this is the biggest win of my head coaching career," said first year head coach Mark Beckham. "I am extremely proud of the team, they deserved this win. They've come up short against very good teams, but today they were able to put everything together and beat a quality team."

The Cards began the match by taking the doubles point. The Cardinal team of Bianca Gorbea and Nataliz Baez defeated Allyn Mueller and Jessica Zok 8-5 at the top seed. USF's Janette Bejlkova and Iciri Rai topped Lindsey Jones and Lauren Imre 8-5 at No. 2. Jo-Ann Van Aerde and Robyn White teamed to beat Liz Cruz and Lauren Shumate 8-6 at No. 3 to put the Cards up 1-0

In singles action, USF's Iciri tied the match with a 7-5, 6-3 win over White at the five-spot. Zok gave the Bulls a 2-1 lead when she defeated Jones 6-4, 6-3 at No. 2. Louisville's Baez tied the match at 2-2 with her 3-6, 6-4, 6-2 win over Mueller at the no. 4 seed. At the top seed, Louisville's Lauren Imre defeated 88th-ranked Jannete Bejlkova 4-6 in the first set, but fell 7-5 in the second and was down 5-2 in the third when she retired, giving the Bulls a 3-2 lead. Van Aerde tied the match at 3-3, defeating Natalia Guavara 4-6, 6-0, 6-4 at No. 6. Bianca Gorbea's 6-3, 2-6, 7-6 (3) win over Cruz secured the win for the Cardinals.

"To the best of my knowledge, this is the highest ranked win in U of L women's tennis history," said Beckham. "I hope this is a sign of change in the level of this program. I want to recognize Natalia Baez, Bianca Gorbea, Lauren Imre for giving unbelievable effort. Natalia and Bianca were able to win and Lauren put herself in a situation to beat one of the better players in the country, but her body cramped up and was unable to finish."

The Cardinals (5-3) will face Virginia Tech Sunday at 10 a.m.

Louisville 4 - #30 USF 3
Singles
1 - Janetta Bejlkova (USF) d. Lauren Imre (UL) 4-6, 7-5, 5-2 (ret)
2 - Jessia Zok (USF) d. Lindsey Jones (UL) 6-4, 6-3
3 - Bianco Gorbea (UL) d. Liz Cruz (USF) 6-3, 2-6, 7-6 (2)
4 - Natalia Baez (UL) d. Allyn Mueller (USF) 3-6, 6-4, 6-2
5 - Iciri Rai (USF) d. Robyn White (UL0 7-5, 6-3
6 - Jo-Ann Van Aerde (UL) d. Natalia Guevara (USF) 4-6, 6-0, 6-4

Doubles
1 - Gorbea/Baez (UL) d. Mueller/Zok (USF) 8-5
2 - Bejlkova/Rai (USF) d. Jones/Imre (UL) 8-5
3 - Van Aerde/White (UL) d. Cruz/Lauren Shumate (USF) 8-6