Oct. 22, 2007

NORFOLK, Va. - Marshall's No. 59 nationally-ranked junior's duo Kellie Schmitt (Pittsburgh, Pa.) and Karolina Soor (Lindesberg, Sweden) advanced to the doubles finals round during play Monday at the Wilson/Intercollegiate Tennis Association East Women's Regional Championship hosted by Old Dominion University. It has been since 2003 when the Marshall's women's tennis doubles reached the doubles finals at the East Regional Championship when the pair of Jessica Johnson and Ashley Kroh advanced all the way to the ITA National Intercollegiate Indoor Championship consolation semifinals.

"Today was a great day for Marshall women's tennis," Marshall head coach John Mercer said. "Kellie and Karolina did a fantastic job competing."

The Herd's doubles defeated the No. 15 seeded William and Mary's pair Acharya/Bresson, 8-0, in the doubles quarterfinals. Then the duo defeated the No. 53 nationally-ranked Kosminskaya/Koulbitskaya (Penn), 8-4, in the doubles semifinals.

Schmitt and Soor will face the number one nationally-ranked William and Mary's doubles Moulton-Levy/Zoricic at noon Tuesday in the doubles finals. A win in the finals match will earn the duo a spot at the indoor championship held at the Ohio State University in early November.

The number three seeded Schmitt defeated the No. 13 seeded Klaudyna Kasztelaniec of William and Mary in straight-sets, 6-4, 6-2, in the singles round of 16. Then Schmitt faced the No. 46 nationally-ranked and number five seeded Katarina Zoricic of William and Mary where she also won in straight-sets, 6-1, 6-2, in the singles quarterfinals.

Schmitt, the No. 48 nationally-ranked singles player, will face the number seven nationally-ranked opponent from William and Mary, Megan Moulton-Levy at 9 a.m. Tuesday in the singles semifinals round. Schmitt advanced to the singles semifinals round last season before being knocked out by Harvard University's Beier Ko.

"We had quite an accomplishment today," coach Mercer added. "I look forward to tomorrow's singles and doubles play matches."

Championship competition will conclude Tuesday, Oct. 23 with all matches played at Old Dominion University. The singles finalists and doubles champion from the East Regional Championship will earn spots in the Nov. 1-4 ITA National Intercollegiate Indoor Championships hosted by the Ohio State University at the Racquet Club of Columbus.

ITA Women's East Regional Championship official website can be found at: http://tennislink.usta.com/tournaments/tournamenthome/tournament.aspx?T=61102.

Complete individual updates on the East Regional Championship can be found at: http://tennislink.usta.com/tournaments/tournamenthome/Players.aspx?T=61102.

Doubles Quarterfinals
Schmitt/Soor (Marshall) (3) def. Acharya/Bresson (W&M) (15) - 8-0

Doubles Semifinals
Schmitt/Soor (Marshall) (3) def. Kosminskaya/Koulbitskaya (U. Penn.) (2) - 8-4

Singles Round of 16
Kellie Schmitt (Marshall) (3) def. Klaudyna Kasztelaniec (W&M) (13) - 6-4, 6-2

Singles Quarterfinals
Kellie Schmitt (Marshall) (3) def. Katarina Zoricic (W&M) (5) - 6-1, 6-2