March 28, 2006

MILWAUKEE - After sweeping the doubles point in thrilling fashion, the Marquette women's tennis team used four additional singles wins to defeat Illinois State, 5-2, at the Helfaer Tennis Stadium. Sophomores Maria Calbeto and Erin Watkins, and freshmen Robin Metzler and Lauren Little all picked up singles victories for the Golden Eagles who push their winning streak to four consecutive matches.

"I am so proud of our players today," said head coach Jody Bronson. "This is probably the most energy I have seen our players play with and the best each player has played all on the same day. We knew we can be this good. It started in doubles and then sweeping it after being down. They fed off each other with energy and excitement, and just took care of business."

The no. 3 doubles tandem of Metzler and junior Dominika Dabrowski held on to take the first doubles win after an early 5-0 lead defeating Emilie Sechaud and Carolyne Parent, 8-5. Next, in a come-from-behind effort at no. 1 doubles, Calbeto and Little paired to down Katri Miller and Veronique Parke-Bedar, 9-8. At one point Calbeto and Little were down 4-1, but rallied to tie it first at six apiece, then seven each and finally eight apiece before pulling off the 9-8 win.

Junior Francina Bonnelly and Watkins, at no. 2 doubles, also came from behind to defeat Nicole Schneider and Ashley Maxwell, 9-7, to give the Marquette the doubles point sweep.

In singles play, Watkins and Little gave the Golden Eagles a 3-0 lead with wins over Sechaud, 6-3, 6-2. and Parke-Bedard, 6-2, 6-3, respectively. Schneider's, 6-1, 6-2, win over Bonnelly at no. 5 singles put the Redbirds on the board and put the match score at 3-1.

After winning her first set, 6-4, Metzler rallied from being down at the sixth spot, 4-1, in the second set to win 7-5, and clinching the match win for the Golden Eagles. At. no. 1 singles Calbeto followed up Metzler's win in come-from-behind fashion to defeat Miller in three sets, 2-6, 6-4, 6-1.

In the last match, Dabrowski was downed in three sets and a tiebreaker by Parent, 3-6, 7-6 and 10-9 in the decider.

"Domo was down, she came back. Beba was down, she came back. Robin was down, she came back," added Bronson of the level of play today. "When things got tough we fought through and played to the level I know is in us. This is exactly what we need heading into the two conference matches this weekend and the conference tournament. Our season started today."

The Golden Eagles will be back in action this weekend hosting BIG EAST Conference foes Seton Hall on Saturday, April 1 at 8:30 a.m., and Syracuse on Sunday, April 2 at 10 a.m.

Marquette 5, Illinois State 2

Doubles
1. Calbeto/Little (MARQ) def. Miller/Parke-Bedard (ISU), 9-8
2. Bonnelly/Watkins (MARQ) def. Schneider/Maxwell (ISU), 9-7
3. Dabrowski/Metzler (MARQ) def. Sechaud/Parent (ISU), 8-5

Singles
1. Maria Calbeto (MARQ) def. Katri Miller (ISU), 2-6, 6-4, 6-1
2. Lauren Little (MARQ) def. Veronique Parke-Bedard (ISU), 6-2, 6-3
3. Erin Watkins (MARQ) def. Emilie Sechaud (ISU), 6-3, 6-2
4. Carolyne Parent (ISU) def. Dominika Dabrowski (MARQ), 3-6, 7-6 (10-9)
5. Nicole Schneider (ISU) def. Francina Bonnelly (MARQ), 6-1, 6-2
6. Robin Metzler (MARQ) def. Matea Simovic (ISU), 6-4, 7-5

Marquette Golden Eagles Women's Tennis

Printer-friendly format	Email this article