Box Score

KENNESAW, Ga. - The women's tennis team sealed the #5 seed in the Atlantic Sun Conference Tournament with a convincing 6-1 win over the Mercer Bears today at the KSU Tennis Complex.  The Bears (7-9, 3-7 A-Sun) will enter the tournament as the #6 seed with the loss today.

In a rare turn of events for the Owls (12-10, 4-6 A-Sun), they were able to pick up the victory in doubles to start the match.  For only the second time in 10 A-Sun matches, the Owls were able to squeeze out the doubles point by picking up two victories.  The No. 1 pairing of Vera Shkundina and Ayano Tanaka picked up their second Atlantic Sun victory as a tandem this season, knocking off Jennifer Lada and Amalia Bugge of Mercer, 8-3.  The No. 2 team of Agatha Palider and Iesha Holton were swept 8-0, before Mackenzie Swindall and Morgan Carney brought the Owls the doubles victory with an 8-4 win over Sarah Hanna and Stephanie Cohen.

The match was never in doubt during the singles, as the Owls three most successful players raced to straight set wins at No. 1, No. 5, and No. 6 singles.  Vera Shkundina (15-7, 6-4 A-Sun), Agatha Palider (14-4, 7-3 A-Sun) and Tess Lagerkvist (17-5, 7-3 A-Sun) all added to their impressive spring campaigns.  Junior Captain Ayano Tanaka and freshman Iesha Holton also picked up wins for the Owls.  Holton has now won three of her last four matches, and Tanaka has won two of her last three.  Mercer finally got on the board when senior Anna Weislander was able to take down Owl sophomore Morgan Carney, 6-3, 6-3, snapping a three-match winning streak for Carney.

"I was thrilled with the way our team played today," commented head coach Brandon Padgett.  "This is the kind of match we needed to end the conference season.  We've won four of the last five matches in the conference, and are excited for the chance to compete in the conference tournament for the first time."

The Owls will play Campbell University (12-8, 6-4 A-Sun) in the quarterfinals of the six-team Atlantic Sun Conference tournament, to be held at the Mandy Stoll Tennis Center on the campus of Stetson University.  The tournament runs April 15-17, 2010.  Match times will be posted as soon as they become available.

The Owls wrap up their regular season on Saturday against UAB in a match that has been rescheduled twice due to weather.  Match time is set for 1:00 p.m. and will take place at the KSU Tennis Complex.  Admission is free to the public and parking is available in the East Parking Deck on KSU's campus.