Feb. 23, 2007

MILWAUKEE - The Marquette women's tennis swept not one, but two opponents Friday at the Helfaer Tennis Stadium. The Golden Eagles defeated Northern Illinois, 7-0, in the early match and shut out BIG EAST Conference foe Connecticut, 7-0. With the wins, Marquette improves to 4-9 overall and 1-1 in BIG EAST play.

"This was an excellent day for us," exclaimed head coach Jody Bronson. "We play such a tough schedule against some of the top competition but in the end it has prepared these players. They were able to step up today. I knew we were good, but now our team knows it too, and I think we showed it today. I am just so happy for our players because we have been so close in so many matches. We have made a statement with these two wins that we have turned the corner."

In the morning session against NIU, Marquette won the doubles point by claiming each singles match. The tandems of Lauren Little and Shannon Brown at no. 1 and Maria Calbeto and Kylie Moore at no. 2 defeated their respective Huskie counterparts, 8-5 and 8-3, respectively. At no. 3 doubles, the duo of Francina Bonnelly and Erin Watkins needed a tie-breaker to defeat Jenny Edner and Dora Delgadillo, 9-8 (3). All three doubles teams won later that afternoon to help Marquette secure the doubles point against Connecticut. Bonnelly and Watkins shutout UConn's Elizabeth Dibbs and Christine Burek, 8-0, in their second doubles match of the day at the third position.

In singles play, Lauren Little claimed back-to-back no. 1 singles wins to help her move to 3-8 on the season at the top spot. Her win over Connecticut's Burek secured the team win for Marquette.

Wakins also cruised to consecutive singles wins Friday first at no. 2 singles over NIU's Edner, 6-2, 6-1, then at no. 3 singles against UConn defeating Jessica Porter, 6-1, 7-5.

Calbeto played her first match of the day at no. 3 singles defeating Northern's Nao Umemura in three sets, 4-6, 6-4, 10-7. Later Calbeto pulled off a quick 6-2, 6-4 win at no. 4 singles over Breann Cheung.

Robin Metzler, seeing action first at the no. 4 spot, defeating Forsberg, 6-4, 6-2, moved to no. 5 singles and defeated Connecticut's Alison Campitiello in straight sets, 6-2, 6-2. The sophomore's win at no. 4 singles was her first of the season.

Brown held down no. 6 singles in both matches Friday and allowed just three points to be scored on her. She defeated Megan Brooks of NIU, 6-1, 6-0, and then took down Ashley Petruzzi of Connecticut, 6-2, 6-0. Brown is 5-2 on the season at no. 6 singles.

Moore was inserted into the lineup against Connecticut at no. 2singles and overturned Kelley LoRusso, 6-1, 6-2, for her first win this season at the no. 2 spot.

The Golden Eagles will return to action on March 2 when they head to Syracuse, N.Y., to meet the Orange at 4 p.m. ET.

Marquette 7, Northern Illinois 0

Doubles
1. Little/Brown (MU) def. Umemura/Asuaje (NIU) , 8-5
2. Calbeto/Moore (MU) def. Brooks/Forsberg, (NIU) 8-3
3. Bonnelly/Watkins (MU) def. Edner/Delgadillo (NIU), 9-8 (3)

Singles
1. Lauren Little (MU) def. Lilian Asuaje (NIU), 6-3, 6-1
2. Erin Watkins (MU) def. Jenny Edner (NIU), 6-2, 6-1
3. Maria Calbeto (MU) def. Nao Umemura (NIU), 4-6, 6-4, 10-7
4. Robin Metzler (MU) def. Brook Forsberg (NIU), 6-4, 6-2
5. Elly Strother (MU) def. Dora Delgadillo (NIU), 6-2, 6-2
6. Shannon Brown (MU) def. Megan Brooks (NIU), 6-1, 6-0

Marquette 7, Connecticut 0

Doubles
1. Little/Brown (MU) def. Porter/Cheung (UCONN), 8-3
2. Calbeto/Moore (MU) def. LoRusso/Campihello, (UCONN) 8-4
3. Bonnelly/Watkins (MU) def. Dibbs/Burek (UCONN), 8-0

Singles
1. Lauren Little (MU) def. Christine Burek (UCONN), 6-4, 6-1
2. Kylie Moore (MU) def. Kelley LoRusso (UCONN), 6-1, 6-2
3. Erin Watkins (MU) def. Jessica Porter (UCONN), 6-1, 7-5
4. Maria Calbeto (MU) def. Breann Cheung (UCONN), 6-2, 6-4
5. Robin Metzler (MU) def. Alison Campitiello (UCONN), 6-2, 6-2
6. Shannon Brown (MU) def. Ashley Petruzzi (UCONN), 6-2, 6-0

Marquette Golden Eagles Women's Tennis

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