COVINGTON, La. – The Kennesaw State women’s tennis team started its 2011 spring season off on the right foot with a convincing 5-2 win over Southeastern Louisiana on Thursday afternoon at the Stone Creek Club and Spa.

The win improves Kennesaw State to 1-0 on the year, while the loss drops Southeastern Louisiana to 0-1 for the season.

Head Coach Jeffery Kutac couldn't be happier with the way his players performed in the spring season opener, and he commented on his first win as a coach at Kennesaw State.

"I was really proud of the way we competed throughout the match, especially in doubles play becuase the team really struggled with that last season so to comeback the way we did today was great to see," coach Kutac said. "Once we got the doubles point we really started fast in almost all of our singles matches to lead us to a solid 5-2 win over a good Southeastern Louisiana team. I was pleased to get the win today and I look forward to it being one of many over the next several years I am here at Kennesaw State." 

Kennesaw State took the first point of the match by winning two of the three doubles matches. The number one doubles team of Vera Shkundina and Iesha Holton took down Southeastern Louisiana’s Mia Hagiu and Laura Verges in a very exciting match by a score of 9-7.

Junior Morgan Carney and freshman Alexandra Apostu picked up the other doubles win for the Owls at the number three position by beating Morgane Dadot and Nina Schmied, 8-2.

The Black and Gold went on to take care of business in singles play winning four of the six singles matches, which included wins by Holton, Apostu, senior Agatha Palider and sophomore Therese Lagerkvist all in straight sets.

Lagerkvist has now won eight of her last nine singles matches dating back to last season, while Apostu went 2-0 in her first collegiate dual match.

The Owls will have a 24 hour break before they step right back on the court on Jan. 28 against the University of New Orleans. The match will start at 2 p.m. central time.

Kennesaw State - 5, Southeastern Louisiana – 2

Singles:
1. Audrey Chelini (SLU) def. Vera Shkundina (KSU) 6-2, 6-4
2. Iesha Holton (KSU) def. Morgane Dadot (SLU) 6-3, 6-3
3. Laura Verges (SLU) def. Ayano Tanaka (KSU) 7-5, 6-3
4. Alexandra Apostu (KSU) def. Nina Schmied (SLU) 6-2, 6-0
5. Agatha Palider (KSU) def. Isabel Brito (SLU) 6-3, 7-5
6. Therese Lagerkvist (KSU) def. Mia Hagiu (SLU) 6-1, 6-1

Doubles:
1. Vera Shkundina/Iesha Holton (KSU) def. Mia Hagiu/Laura Verges (SLU) 9-7
2. Audrey Chelini/Raissa Dias (SLU) def. Agatha Palider/Therese Lagerkvist (KSU) 8-6
3. Morgan Carney/Alexandra Apostu (KSU) def. Morgane Dadot/Nina Schmied (SLU) 8-2