March 30, 2007

COLUMBIA, S.C. -

The No. 37 Auburn women's tennis team fell to No. 32 South Carolina, 4-3 on Friday at the Maxcy Gregg Tennis Center in Columbia, S.C.  The Tigers dropped to 9-6 and 3-4 in conference play, while the Gamecocks improved to 14-3 overall with the victory and moved to 6-1 in the SEC.

In doubles action, the 16th ranked duo of Alex Haney and Melissa Koning breezed past Schofield and Zubori, 8-3 at the No. 1 spot for their fifth straight win.  At the No. 2 court, Whitney Chappell and Fani Chifchieva fell, 8-2, and the Gamecocks were able to take the doubles point with a 9-7 loss by Kelly Adams and Jile Hastenrath.

The Tigers needed to take four of the seven singles matches for the victory, but things did not get off to a good start.  Chifchieva, ranked 30th, was upset by Gira Schofield, 6-1, 6-3 at the No. 1 spot.  At the No. 6 position, Adams fell, 6-2, 6-2, bringing AU one point away from a loss.  It happened on court three, where Koning lost to Natasa Vuckovic, 6-3, 6-2.

Despite the loss, Auburn kept battling, taking the next three singles matches.  Whitney Chappell got them on the board with a 7-5, 6-1 win over Lucas, while Jil Hastenrath defeated Megan McGavock, 6-4, 3-6, (10-8) at the No. 5 position.  Finally, Haney won her 10th in a row, taking her record to 14-1 with a 6-4, 5-7, 6-3 win over Zubori at the No. 2 position.

Auburn will remain on the road to take on No. 3 Florida on Sunday in Gainesville.

#32 South Carolina 4, #37 Auburn 3

Singles
1. #118 Gira Schofield, USC, def. #30 Fani Chifchieva, AU, 6-1, 6-3
2. Alex Haney, AU, def. Ana Marija Zubori, USC, 6-4, 5-7, 6-3
3. #125 Natasa Vuckovic, USC, def. Melissa Koning, AU, 6-3, 6-2
4. Whitney Chappell, AU, def. Christyn Lucas, USC, 7-5, 6-1
5. Jil Hastenrath, AU, def. Megan McGavock, USC, 6-4, 3-6, (10-8)
6. Laura Ganzer, USC, def. Kelly Adams, AU, 6-2, 6-2

Order of finish: 1, 6, 3, 4, 5, 2

Doubles
1. #16 Haney/Koning, AU, def. #18 Schofield/Zubori, USC, 8-3
2. Lucas/Vuckovic, USC, def. Chappell/Chifchieva, AU, 8-2
3. Ganzer/McGavock, USC, def. Adams/Hastenrath, AU, 9-7

Order of finish: 1, 2, 3