March 19, 2007

Bemidji, MN - The University of Mary opened its 2007 women’s tennis season in tremendous fashion, defeating Bemidji State University 5-4 on Sunday, March 18.

The Marauders won three singles events and two doubles matches over the Beavers in a Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference event.

Trailing two matches to none after having to forfeit the #3 doubles match and #6 singles, the Marauders quickly evened out the contest with two wins in doubles play. The U-Mary number one doubles team of seniors Chelsey Stark (Jamestown, ND) and Julie Zaruba (Monticello, MN) defeated the team of Kali Welu and Shelia Hoberg by a score of 8-5. The Marauders also rolled to victory No. 2 doubles match as senior Jessica Seifert (Bismarck, ND) and freshman Michelle Bauer (Mandan, ND) defeated Amy Erickson and Julie Kaspner 8-4.

Bemidji State got its first win on the court at the No. 5 singles spot when Cheyanne Maki defeated Marauders sophomore Jane McCullough (Bishopville, SC) 6-1, 6-0. Welu then got BSU’s fourth win of the match in the number two singles match with a 6-2, 6-2 victory over Zaruba.

Now down 4-2 and needing wins in the remaining three singles competitions to win the match, the Marauders began their comeback.

Stark defeated Lexen 6-4, 7-6 in number one singles. In the number three singles match, Bauer defeated Kaspner 6-3, 6-4. Seifert pulled the match win out for the Marauders with a three-set extra point 6-4, 4-6, 8-6 victory.

The Marauders are now 1-0 overall and against Northern Sun competition. U-Mary is next in action March 21 at Minnesota State University Moorhead.

University of Mary 5, Bemidji State University 4
(March 18, 2007)

Singles competition:
1. Stark, Chelsey (U-Mary) def. Lexcen, Kristen (BSU) 6-4, 7-6

2. Welu, Kali (BSU) def. Zaruba, Julie (U-Mary) 6-2, 6-2

3. Seifert, Jessica (U-Mary) def. Hoberg, Shelia (BSU) 6-4, 4-6, 8-6

4. Bauer, Michelle (U-Mary) def. Kapsner, Julie (BSU) 6-3, 6-4

5. Maki, Cheyanne (BSU) def. McCullough, Jane (U-Mary) 6-1, 6-0

Doubles competition:
1. Stark, Chelsey/Zaruba, Julie (U-Mary) def. Welu, Kali/Hoberg, Shelia (BSU) 8-5

2. Seifert, Jessica/Bauer, Michelle (U-Mary) def. Erickson, Amy/Kapsner, Julie (BSU) 8-4

Notes:
U-Mary is 1-0 (1-0 NSIC)

Bemidji State University is 0-4 (0-2;NSIC)

No. 3 Doubles BSU Def. U-Mary by forfeit

No. 6 Singles BSU Def. U-Mary by forfeit