Nov. 1, 2007

COLUMBUS, OHIO - The Marshall women's tennis team completed first day of action, Thursday, at the 2007 ITA National Intercollegiate Indoor Championships hosted by the Ohio State University at the Racquet Club of Columbus. The Thundering Herd's No. 59 nationally-ranked juniors' duo Kellie Schmitt (Pittsburgh, Pa.) and Karolina Soor (Lindesberg, Sweden) surprised the No. 10 nationally-ranked and number two seeded pair Caitlin Whoriskey and Zsofia Zubor of Tennessee in the doubles first round of play, Thursday, with an 8-5 victory.

"I thought today we competed very well," Marshall head coach John Mercer said. "We served well and made the big points."

This is the first time in Marshall women's tennis history a doubles pair has advanced to the doubles quarterfinals in the ITA National Intercollegiate Indoor Championships. In 2003, the Herd's duo of Jessica Johnson and Ashley Kroh lost in the doubles first round but did advance to the consolation semifinals at the ITA National Intercollegiate Indoor Championships.

In the beginning of October, the Tennessee pair won the All-American Championships in Pacific Palisades, Calif., which the Herd pair competed in as well.

Since the Herd defeated the No. 10 nationally-ranked opponent, the pair will now face the number nine nationally-ranked Notre Dame pair of Brook Buck and Kelcy Tefft in the doubles quarterfinals, Friday morning at 9 a.m.

"We did a great job of hanging in there today," coach Mercer added. "We all are looking forward to tomorrow's match-up."

Championship competition will continue through Sunday, Nov. 4 with all matches played at the Racquet Club of Columbus.

Complete individual updates on the ITA National Indoor Championships can be found at: http://www.itatennis.com/Indoors07/main.htm.

Doubles First Round
Schmitt/Soor (Marshall) (59) def. Whoriskey/Zubor (Tennessee) (2) (10) - 8-5