SEC Championships Match Notes
April 19, 2006
AUBURN, Ala. - With the regular season complete, the Auburn women's tennis team will begin postseason play as the 12th-seed in the Southeastern Conference Championships on Thursday against No. 31 and fifth-seeded Tennessee at 9 a.m. CT in Gainesville, Fla. The SEC Tournament will be held at the Ring Tennis Complex and hosted by the University of Florida. Auburn (6-17, 0-11 SEC) fell 5-2 on March 26 at Tennessee (10-11, 6-5 SEC) in the only meeting between the two schools this season. The Tigers concluded their regular season with a 6-1 loss to No. 32 Alabama on April 15. Live scoring of the match will be available on Auburn's website, www.auburntigers.com.
About Tennessee
Tennessee is ranked 31st and is coming off a 6-1 loss at No. 24 Georgia on Saturday. The Lady Vols have dropped four of their last five matches. Tennessee finished fifth in the SEC East. Tennessee returns five letterwinners from a year ago after finishing 15-9 and 7-4 in the SEC. Auburn is 6-23 all-time against Tennessee. Auburn's last win over Tennessee was in 1994, when the Tigers dealt the Lady Vols two losses. Auburn has lost 14 straight to Tennessee. The Lady Vols have no players ranked in singles. Their doubles team of Melissa Schaub and Ghizela Schutte is ranked 51st.
Auburn At The SEC Championships
Auburn has lost three straight matches at the SEC Championships with the Tigers' last victory coming in 2002 with a 4-1 win over Mississippi State in the first round. Auburn last faced Tennessee at the SEC Championships in 1998. In 1998, the Lady Vols topped Auburn 6-0.
Last Time Out
Auburn won its second consecutive doubles point, but was unable to carry the momentum into singles play, as the Tigers lost to No. 32 Alabama, 6-1, on Senior Day. Auburn seniors Ashley Cowart and Erin Gray were recognized in between doubles and singles play. Prior to the recognition, Gray came up big for the Tigers in doubles play, as she teamed with Dzeljan Memisi to clinch the doubles point with an 8-6 victory over Sofia Ayala and Shelley Godwin in the No. 3 match. The Tigers won the No. 2 and No. 3 doubles matches to earn their second consecutive doubles point. Whitney Chappell and Irina Pljusznyin began their No. 2 match versus Ashley Bentley and Natalie McElveen with six straight points before going on to win the match, 8-2. At the No. 3 position, Senior Erin Gray and Dzeljan Memisi defeated Alabama's Sofia Ayala and Shelley Godwin by a count of 8-6. In the No. 1 match Alabama's Robin Stephenson and Mari Muller defeated Ashley Cowart and Alex Haney, 8-1. In singles play, the Crimson Tide (10-10, 6-5, SEC) was able to claim all six singles matches. The Tigers won the first set in the Nos. 2, 4 and 5 matches, but were unable to take another set.
Doubles Comes Through
After not winning a doubles point since March 17, the Tigers have been able to win two straight doubles points. On April 13, the Tigers took the doubles point from Samford by winning the first two completed matches. On April 15, the Tigers won the doubles point by taking the Nos. 2 and 3 matches over Alabama. Against Samford, the doubles point was the first by the Tigers since March 17 versus Georgia State. The third doubles match was suspended after the Tigers clinched the doubles point. In the No. 1 match, Ashley Cowart and Alex Haney paired together for the Tigers to take an 8-3 win over Sarah McKey and Emily White. In the No. 2 match Whitney Chappell and IrinaPljusznyin moved their record to 2-0 with an 8-3 victory over Anna Jackson and Katie McMiller. After the Tigers took the first two matches to take the point, the No. 3 match between the Tigers' tandem of Dzeljan Memisi and Erin Gray and Samford's duo of Christie Baker and Whitnie Warren was suspended. Against Alabama, Whitney Chappell and Irina Pljusznyin won the No. 2 match over Alabama's Ashley Bentley and Natalie McElveen, 8-2. In the No. 3 match, Dzeljan Memisi and Erin Gray defeated Sofia Ayala and Shelley Godwin, 8-6.
Lineup Consistency
Head coach Tim Gray has used identical lineups in the last two matches. The lineup has paid dividends in doubles play as the Tigers have won two straight doubles points.
Singles
1. Alex Haney
2. Whitney Chappell
3. Irina Pljusznyin
4. Ashley Cowart
5. Irina Pljusznyin
6. Erin Gray
Doubles
1. Alex Haney/Ashley Cowart
2. Whitney Chappell/Irina Pljusznyin
3. Erin Gray/Dzeljan Memisi
Perfect Combination
Although freshmen Whitney Chappell and Irina Pljusznyin have only been paired together three times in doubles play, the duo has made a strong push to remain as a doubles team. The duo is 3-0 on the year and has paired together in the No. 2 position in the last two matches.
2/25 Bredniak/Maher, SIU 3 W 8-1
4/13 Jackson/McMiller, Samford 2 W 8-3
4/15 Bentley/McElveen, Alabama 2 W 8-2
Saying Goodbye
Last Saturday against Alabama marked the final home match for seniors Ashley Cowart and Erin Gray. The duo was honored in between doubles and singles play.
A native of Savannah, Georgia, Ashley Cowart is a two-time member of the SEC Academic Honor Roll in 2004 and 2005. A co-captain on this year's squad, Cowart is the only member of the team to have participated in every tournament the past two seasons.
A native of Mobile, Alabama, Erin Gray has joined with Cowart to serve as co-captains this season. Gray is a two-time member of the SEC Academic Honor Roll in 2004 and 2005. Gray ranks fourth on this year's team in singles victories.
Tough Competition
Auburn's match with Samford on April 13 was its first vs. an unranked opponent since March 17. Following the Tigers' match against Samford, the Tigers faced No. 32 Alabama on April 15. Prior to facing Samford, the Tigers had faced ranked opponents in seven straight matches. The Tigers have faced ranked opponents in 10 of its last 12 matches.
Haney Still Going Strong
Alex Haney has continued her hot stretch by winning two of her three matches last week. On Thursday, Haney topped Samford's Anna Jackson in the No. 1 match, 6-2, 6-2. On Tuesday, Haney earned a 6-4, 1-6, 6-2 win over 91st-ranked Adrianna Solarova of South Alabama. Haney's win snapped Solarova's eight-match win streak. Her only lost last week came No. 14 Robin Stephenson of Alabama, 6-1, 6-0. Haney has won eight of her last 11 matches, including three straight. During her recent run, Haney had a five-match win streak. Haney had her five-match win streak snapped on April 2, as Florida's Alexis Gordon - ranked 37th at the time - defeated Haney, 6-2, 6-3. Haney split her two matches vs. Arkansas and LSU. At Arkansas, Haney fell to No. 31 Aurelija Miseviciute, 6-0, 6-1. Versus LSU, Haney defeated Mykala Hedbert, 6-4, 7-5. On March 31, Haney won her fifth match in a row with 6-4, 7-6, (8-6) win over No. 68 Gira Schofield of South Carolina. Haney is 9-9 in singles play this spring and 18-14 overall. In doubles, Haney is 8-10 this spring, including a 5-6 mark in the No. 1 position. In singles, Haney downed No. 82 Caroline Basu of Georgia, 7-6, 4-6, 1-0, in the No. 3 match on March 24. On March 26, Haney topped Tennessee's Melissa Schaub, 6-3, 6-1, in the No. 2 match. Haney's win streak began with a 2-6, 6-4, 6-1 win over Louisville's Robyn White in the No. 3 match on March 16. On March 17, Haney downed Georgia State's Martina Nitkova in the No. 3 match, 6-3, 6-2.
Chappell Back On Track
Whitney Chappell earned her second victory in a row with a 6-3, 6-3 win over Katie McMiller of Samford in the No. 2 match. Chappell ended her seven-match losing skid on April 11, as she topped South Alabama's Jelena Krivacevic, 7-6, 6-2, in the No. 2 singles match. Chappell's victory was her first since March 16. Chappell almost moved her win streak to three, as she took the first set from No. 79 Ashley Bentley of Alabama before losing the match, 1-6, 6-4, 6-1.
Cowart And Haney Dominate LSU
Ashley Cowart and Alex Haney both had LSU's number on Feb. 9, as the duo each won their singles matches and then paired together to defeat LSU in the No. 1 doubles match. Playing in the No. 2 position, Haney got past Mykala Hedbert, 6-4, 7-5. Playing her first match of the season in the No. 4 position, Cowart topped Lauren Seaman, 4-6, 7-6 (9-7), 6-0. In doubles, Cowart and Haney topped LSU's Tiffany Tucker and Mykala Hedberg in the No. 1 match, 8-6.
Tippins Stepping Up
Although Tippins has missed six straight matches due to injury, she still has a two-match win streak in singles play. On March 17, Tippins knocked off Brittany Smith of Georgia State in the No. 5 match, 6-3, 3-6, 1-0 (10-6). Against Tennessee on March 26, Tippins defeated Stephanie Harris, 6-1, 6-1, in the No. 6 match. Tippins missed both matches vs. South Carolina and Florida, due to injury.
Under The Lights
Auburn's match with South Carolina on March 31 was its first match under the lights. The match was the first played under the lights this season at the Luther Young Tennis Complex for either the men or women's team. Earlier this season the Tigers finished their match with Louisville under the lights because the start of the match was delayed due to inclement weather.
Homeward Bound
Auburn's recent five-match homestand came after after the Tigers played eight of their first nine matches of the spring on the road. Auburn finally returned home to face Troy on March 8. Prior to facing the Trojans, Auburn's last four matches had been on the road.
Slow Starters
For the third straight year, Auburn began SEC play with a loss. Auburn's last victory in an SEC opener was in 2003, when the Tigers defeated Arkansas, 6-1. Auburn also defeated the Lady Razorbacks in 2002 to open SEC play.
Difficult Road
As if playing eight of its first nine matches on the road wasn't difficult enough, Auburn has also had the challenge of facing 11 teams ranked in the top 70. Auburn has faced No. 7 Florida, No. 50 Florida State, No. 50 Arkansas, No. 58 South Alabama, No. 61 LSU, No. 28 Kentucky, No. 68 Louisville, No. 33 Ole Miss, No. 34 South Carolina, No. 15 Vanderbilt and No. 7 Georgia Tech.
Try, Try Again
The Tigers' original match with Samford scheduled for Feb. 11, was cancelled due to cold temperatures. The two squads tried to reschedule the match for Feb. 17, but the meeting was once again cancelled due to rain. The match has once again been rescheduled for April 13 at 3 p.m.
Sunshine Tigers
After Auburn opened the year with four straight matches in the state of Florida, the Tigers return to Florida for the SEC Championships. The Tigers opened with matches with Jacksonville and North Florida on Jan. 22, before heading to Orlando, Fla., to play Stetson on Jan. 23. The Tigers ended their Florida road swing with their match at Florida State on Jan. 31.
For The Kids
On Friday, Feb. 3, the Tigers took a break in their practice schedule and drove to Birmingham, Ala., to visit the Children's Hospital. The Tigers spent four hours visiting with the patients from 3-7 p.m. Along with visiting with the patients, the Tigers also gave the patients 100 stuffed Tigers, which were made possible through the combined efforts of Tigers Unlimited, Anders Bookstore and J&M Bookstore.
SEC Co-Player of the Week
It did not take Auburn junior Dzeljan Memisi long to make a strong impression in the SEC. On Tuesday, Memisi was named SEC Co-Player of the Week on Jan. 24 after starting the season 2-0 in singles and 2-0 in doubles. Memisi, a junior-college transfer from Tyler Junior College (Texas) won her first Division I match, 6-0, 6-3, over Jacksonville's Megan Williams. The second win was a 6-3, 6-3 win over Robin Rogers of North Florida. Memisi shared the award with Kentucky's Danielle Petrisko.
3-0, Again
Auburn opened the season 3-0 after posting victories at Jacksonville, North Florida and Stetson. The 3-0 start for the Tigers marked the fourth time in five years that Auburn had opened 3-0. The Tigers' first loss came in their fourth match of the spring against No. 50 Florida State on Jan. 30, 4-3. During that span, the only year Auburn did not start 3-0 was in 2005, when the Tigers lost their third match to Florida International.
Tigers Picked 11th In Coaches Poll
The Tigers were picked to finish 11th in the Southeastern Conference and sixth in the Western Division by the league's head coaches on Jan. 13. The Tigers accumulated 16 points in the poll, just four behind Mississippi State for fifth in the SEC West. Kentucky received the fewest votes with 12. Overall, Florida was picked as East Division and overall conference champion with 59 points. In the Western Division, Ole Miss led the way with 60 points, followed by LSU with 49.
Newcomers
Following the fall season when the Tigers just had six players on their roster, head coach Tim Gray signed three newcomers to start 2006. Joining the Tigers' squad is sophomore Leigh Tippins of Atlanta, junior-college transfer Dzeljan Memisi and freshman Fani Chifchieva. Chifchieva will redshirt during the spring season and will begin competing as a freshman in the fall. Memisi is a transfer from Tyler (Texas) Junior College, which won the 2005 NJCAA title. Memisi won the title in the No. 2 singles position at the 2005 Junior College National Championships. Memisi was a first-team All-American selection in singles and doubles in 2005. Tippins, who was the No. 4 player in the U.S. as a junior chose not to compete in college following high school. After two years out of tennis, Tippins contacted head coach Tim Gray and walked on to the team in the spring. Academically, Tippins is a junior, but given the NCAA five-year window, she has three years of eligibility.
New Era
Tim Gray is in his first season at the helm of the Tigers. Gray comes to Auburn after spending the past three years as the head coach at Eastern Michigan, where he accrued a record of 41-20. Gray has almost 20 years of head coaching experience at the collegiate level. While at Eastern Michigan, Gray led the team to the finals of the Mid-American Conference Championships two out of three seasons. Gray inherits a program that has finished higher than 10th in the Southeastern Conference just once in the past nine years.
All Ages Show
The 2005-06 roster is a unique mix of old and new. With the exception of sophomore Tori Almagno and juco transfer Dzeljan Memisi, everyone on the roster is either a senior or in their first year of collegiate tennis. Comprising the roster are two seniors, one junior, two sophomores and four freshmen.
Looking Ahead
Auburn is in a must-win situation in order to keep its season alive. If the Tigers defeat Tennessee, they will play fourth-seed Georgia on Friday at 9 a.m. at the Ring Tennis Complex.
