Blackbirds Split First Two Matches in Florida Spring Break Trip

3/14/06 -- The LIU women's tennis team opened up its spring break competition session in Florida on Monday in St. Augustine. The Blackbirds fell, 4-3 to Eastern Kentucky in the opening contest, but rebounded with a 5-2 win over Niagara on Tuesday, March 14.

After dropping the doubles point, LIU rallied for the win with victories in five of the six singles spots against the Purple Eagles.

Jessica Loose (Scheessel, Germany) and Merve Koksal (Ankara, Turkey) posted wins at No. 1 and No. 2 singles positions, respectively. In the third slot, senior Krystina Bachner (Penfield, N.Y.) was a 6-3, 6-4 victor over Jacquelyn Cary.

Freshman Ashley Harvey (Randallstown, Md.) rolled at the fourth position, besting Kim Roberts with a 6-0, 6-1 run. Claudia Arteaga (Cali, Colombia) grabbbed the fifth singles win in the sixth spot.

In the loss to EKU, Koksal triumphed over Ina Durcakova in straight sets (6-4, 6-4) at the second singles position.

Harvey battled back after losing her first game to take the victory over Jemma Euers (4-6, 6-3, 6-4). Arteaga registered the Blackbirds third singles triumph in the 4-3 set-back.

LIU (4-4) takes on #14 Rollins College on Wednesday, March, 15 at 3:00 pm.