FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 5-8-04

2004 Mid-Atlantic Region Final: No. 2 AASU 5, No. 9 GC&SU 0

SAVANNAH, Ga. – The No. 2-ranked Armstrong Atlantic State Lady Pirates advanced to their 10th straight NCAA Division II Women's Tennis Round of 16 with a 5-0 win over No. 9-ranked GC&SU on Saturday afternoon at the Mid-Atlantic Regional.

It was not a cakewalk for the Lady Pirates (26-0), however, as they had to come from behind in the top two doubles matches to take a 3-0 lead over the Lady Bobcats (18-7) after doubles play. Manuela Emmrich and Caroline Grage took an 8-2 win over Rachael Porsz and Jessica McKnight at No. 3 doubles, but the top-ranked doubles duo of Zsofia Golopencza and Laura Peaty had to go to a tiebreak to defeat Luiza Biktyakova and Chenelle Kruger, 9-8 (4), at No. 1 doubles, while Luisa Cowper and Dziyana Nazaruk had to rally from an early 4-1 deficit to defeat Anna Davidsson and Anna Shchupak, 8-6, at No. 2 doubles.

In singles play, the Pirates got a quick 6-0, 6-1 win from Peaty over McKnight at No. 6 singles, then Caroline Grage defeated Porsz, 6-1, 6-3, at No. 3 singles to clinch the match.

The Lady Pirates advance to the NCAA Division II Women's Tennis National Championships in Altamonte Springs, Fla., on Wednesday, May 12-Sunday, May 15, where they will face an opponent to be determined.

- Pirates -

2004 Mid-Atlantic Regional - Final

AASU 5, Augusta State 0
Singles
#1 - Zsofi Golopencza (AASU) and Luiza Biktyakova (GC&SU) did not finish
#2 - Luisa Cowper (AASU) and Anna Shchupak (GC&SU) did not finish
#3 - Caroline Grage (AASU) def. Rachael Porsz (GC&SU) 6-1, 6-3
#4 - Dziyana Nazaruk (AASU) and Chenelle Kruger (GC&SU) did not finish
#5 - Manuela Emmrich (AASU) and Anna Davidsson (GC&SU) did not finish
#6 - Laura Peaty (AASU) def. Jessica McKnight (GC&SU) 6-0, 6-1
Doubles
#1 - Golopencza/Peaty (AASU) def. Biktyakova/Kruger (GC&SU) 9-8 (4)
#2 - Cowper/Nazaruk (AASU) def. Shchupak/Davidsson (GC&SU) 8-6
#3 - Grage/Emmrich (AASU) def. McKnight/Porsz (GC&SU) 8-2
Records: AASU (26-0), GC&SU (18-7)