WILMINGTON, N.C. (03/24/07) – Despite starting down 2-0 by default, the Georgia State (8-7, 1-2) women's tennis team came back to defeat Colonial Athletic Association foe UNC Wilmington (13-10, 1-2) 4-3 at the UNCW Tennis Center on Saturday afternoon.  It is the first conference win as a member of the CAA.  Last season, the Panthers fell to UNCW at the CAA Tennis Championships 4-3.

“This was a great job by everyone,” commented head coach Lisa Belcher.  “It was impressive to win with five players and being down 2-0 before the match starts.  They all played well and it was a great win.”

State started the match down 2-0 due to competing with just five players because of injuries.  The Panthers dropped just one of five matches played after having to give the Seahawks the doubles point and the first singles point due to playing with five athletes.

The Panthers were downed at the No. 3 position before junior Kiera Strickland (Roswell, Ga.) garnered the first point with a straight sets victory over her opponent.  Rachel Malina (Decatur, Ga.), a junior, followed with her win over Priscilla Roberts 6-2, 6-2 to give State is second point.  Sophomore Dariana Kozmina (Kharkiv, Ukraine) tied the match as she dropped Molly Molony.  With the deciding match point on the line, junior captain Mateja Podgorsek (Domzale, Slovenia) used a third set to defeat Cassie Martin.

State has now won its last two matches and will look to continue the streak as it hosts Wofford on March 30 at 2:00 p.m. at the Piedmont Tennis Center.

Doubles

No. 1 – Kozmina/Malina (GSU) def. Molony/Roberts (UNCW) 8-6

No. 2 – Isenhour/Schwenk (UNCW) def. Podgorsek/Smith (GSU) 8-4

No. 3 – deGraffenreid/Martin (UNCW) won (default)

Order of Finish: 3, 2, 1

Singles

No. 1 – Dariana Kozmina (GSU) def. Molly Molony (UNCW) 6-4, 6-4

No. 2 – Rachel Malina (GSU) def. Priscilla Roberts (UNCW) 6-2, 6-2

No. 3 – Kayla Schwenk (UNCW) def. Emma Stahl-Johansson (GSU) 6-2, 6-0

No. 4 – Mateja Podgorsek (GSU) def. Cassie Martin (UNCW)  6-1, 2-6, 7-6 (9) *

No. 5 – Kiera Strickland (GSU) def. Lauren Isenhour (UNCW) 6-2, 6-3

No. 6 – Hartley Collins (UNCW) won (default)

Order of Finish: 6, 3, 5, 2, 1, 4*