Feb. 18, 2007

Results

LAS CRUCES, N.M. -- -

Ali Blackett owns perfect spring record at 7-0

The Lady Eagle tennis team ran its record to 7-0 on the season and its best start in school history, following a 6-1 win over New Mexico State Sunday.

New Mexico State falls to 4-5 on the season.

"We were on fire today," Head Coach Randy Rowley said. "I believe we played the best doubles we've ever played."

Southern Miss took the early 1-0 lead, sweeping the doubles competition. Ali Blackett and Grace Kammerer set the tone, winning at No. 3 doubles, 8-4, over Paulina Zuniga and Estelle Guillaumond, and No. 1 doubles' team Sherry Price and Brittany Serret followed suit with an 8-4 win over Nicole Fintell and Zeljka Juricek. Freshmen Stephanie Dellocono and Lauren Gutterman completed the sweep with an 8-6 win at No. 2 doubles over Anne Fagegaltier and Aleksa Costa.

"Everyone came out to play today," said Rowley. "Lauren and Stephanie played two key matches for us today. The freshmen stepped up and played well.

Gutterman extended the Lady Eagles' lead to 2-0 with a straight-set win at No. 5 singles, 6-0, 6-3, over Guillaumond. Dellocono made quick work at No. 4 singles, 6-2, 6-2, over Zuniga.

New Mexico State won its only point at No. 2 singles when Fintell defeated Serret, 6-3, 6-1. The Golden Eagles clinched the match at No. 3 singles when Blackett defeated Fagegaltier, 6-4, 6-3.

After sitting out singles' competition against Northern Colorado, Price bounced back to defeat Juricek at No. 1 singles, 6-2, 6-7, 10-7. The Lady Eagles got their sixth point with Kammerer outlasting Costa at No. 6 singles, 6-2, 5-7, 10-4.

"We are still giving up big leads and letting people back into the match, but we are getting away with it right now," Rowley said.

Southern Miss travels to El Paso to take on UTEP on Monday in its first Conference match of the season.