Jan. 24, 2010

Fort Wayne, IN- In the first of many home matches in the 2010 season, the IPFW women's tennis team squared off and defeated the Eastern Illinois Panthers 5-2 on Sunday at the Pine Ridge Fitness and Racquet Center in Fort Wayne. The Mastodons are 1-1 this season.

IPFW stormed ahead early in the contest after winning the doubles point in exciting fashion. The sophomore duo of Alexandra Forsyth and Katie Brien got the ball rolling with a 8-4 victory over Juliana Frey and Merritt Whitley. Amy Recht and Ingrid Ballus clinched the point by defeating Shannon Brooks and Cara Huck, 9-8 (4).

In the singles competition, the `Dons continued their attack on the Panthers, winning the first two singles matches without much resistance. Recht defeated Amanda Dibbs 6-1, 6-3, while Ballus took care of Brooks 6-2, 6-4.

Only a point away from the victory, Brien sealed the deal with a convincing over Krista Laird 6-1, 6-2. Forsyth put the icing on the cake with a win over Annie Egan, 6-1, 6-0.

Next up for the women's team is a trip south for a non-conference match against the Evansville Aces on January 29. First serve is at 7:00 p.m. EST.

Doubles
Recht/Ballus (IPFW) d. Brooks/Huck (EIU) 9-8 (4)
Forsyth/Brien (IPFW) d. Frey/Whitley (EIU) 8-4
Dibbs/Egan (EIU) d. Vescovi/ Kobayashi (IPFW) 8-2

Singles
Amy Recht (IPFW) d. Amanda Dibbs (EIU) 6-1, 6-3
Ingrid Ballus (IPFW) d. Shannon Brooks (EIU) 6-2, 6-4
Juliana Frey (EIU) d. Yuka Kobayashi (IPFW) 6-3, 3-6, 6-4
Merritt Whitley (EIU) d. Raquel Vescovi (IPFW) 7-6(6), 6-2
Katie Brien (IPFW) d. Krista Laird (EIU) 6-1, 6-2
Alexandra Forsyth (IPFW) d. Annie Egan (EIU) 6-1, 6-0

                                                                    ~Dons~