Colorado State University Athletics
CSU tennis to host Eastern Washington at Miramont Saturday
3/19/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
March 19, 2009
Complete Release in PDF Format 
By Mackenzie Altman
Athletic Media Relations
FORT COLLINS, Colo. - - The Colorado State women's tennis team will return from its spring break trip in Savannah, Ga./Hilton Head, S.C., to host the Eastern Washington Eagles Saturday.
The match will be played at Miramont South Lifestyle Fitness, 901 S. Oakridge (behind Sam's Club), and admission is free. The Rams are eager and driven to win on their home court in front of their fans.
The Eagles are entering Ram country with a 7-5 record, coming off a perfect three-match road trip in which they defeated Weber State 6-1, Idaho State 5-2, and Utah State 5-2. Eastern Washington will begin its spring break trip in Fort Collins.
"Eastern Washington is a good team," said Messick. "We played them two years ago but I believe they are a little better now. Our players who are healthy are playing really well but we are going to have to play stronger on Saturday to do well as a team."
The Rams will take the court at 1 p.m. MDT for warmups with competition beginning at 2 p.m. at Miramont.
Spring Break Trip
The Colorado State women's tennis embarked on its spring break trip to Georgia and South Carolina last weekend. On Monday, the Rams suffered a loss against the nation's top-ranked Division II team, Armstrong Atlantic State, 4-0. The match was called due to a heavy down pour of rain.
"Armstrong Atlantic is the No. 1-ranked Division II team in the country, so we knew we would have a tough match," said Messick. "They are more like one of the top 50-ranked Division I teams. They were a really good team and our girls just got off to a real slow start and dug us a hole early in doubles.
"It was too bad that the rain came because with the three matches left on the court, we were just getting our momentum and we had a shot to bring the match to 4-3."
The Lady Pirates, who have now defeated seven straight Division I opponents, stepped out of Division II play, competing against the Rams using the 7-point Division I scoring format. Armstrong Atlantic State took the doubles point by sweeping all three doubles matches.
The Lady Pirates also won all three singles matches to clinch the match. The other three singles matches were unfinished due to weather.
Lauren Strasburger was defeated, 6-4, 6-0, at the No. 1 singles by Sona Novakova, the No. 1 Division II player in the nation. Kirsten Stople fell at the No. 5 singles to Tina Ronel, 6-0, 6-0 while Lauren Mulhern was defeated by Alisa Kagukina at the No. 6 spot, 6-1, 6-1.
Before the rain ended the match, Laura Neal was up a set in her match. The Rams continue their spring break trip, competing against Rhodes College on Thursday. The match begins at approximately 12 p.m. MDT.
"I don't know much about them besides the fact that they are a good Division III team," said Messick.
"We have not played a Division III school in years but Rhodes is a very strong team. I don't know what to expect but our girls are playing well right now."
Monday's Results, at Atlantic Armstrong State
Singles:
No. 1: Sona Novakova (AASU) def. Lauren Strasburger (CSU) 6-4, 6-0
No. 2: Alida Muller-Wehlau (AASU) vs. Laura Neal (CSU) 4-6, 4-0, unfinished
No. 3: Gabriella Kovacs (AASU) vs. Tori Arneson (CSU) 6-4, 3-2, unfinished
No. 4: Martina Beckmann (AASU) vs. Greer Satherlie (CSU) 6-3, 2-3, unfinished
No. 5: Tina Ronel (AASU) def. Kirsten Stople (CSU) 6-0, 6-0
No. 6: Alisa Kagukina (AASU) def. Lauren Mulhern (CSU) 6-1, 6-1
Doubles:
No. 1: Martina Beckmann/Alida Muller-Wehlau (AASU) def. Tori Arneson/Lauren Strasburger (CSU) 8-2
No. 2: Gabriella Kovacs/Sona Novakova (AASU) def. Laura Neal/Kirsten Stople (CSU) 8-0
No. 3: Kathleen Henry/Tina Ronel (AASU) def. Greer Satherlie/Rui Xu (CSU) 8-6
