Feb. 22, 2008

MILWAUKEE - The Marquette University women's tennis team will open BIG EAST Conference action Sunday when Syracuse pays a visit to Helfaer Tennis Stadium. Doubles play will start at 9 a.m. In last year's BIG EAST faceoff, Marquette came out on top with a 4-3 win over Syracuse.

The Orange are currently atop the BIG EAST standings, boasting an unblemished 4-0 record in conference play, Syracuse has posted convincing wins against Cincinnati, Georgetown, Seton Hall, and Connecticut in which SU has outscored its opponents 26-2.

After losing eight letterwinners and currently having only one upperclassman in 2007 BIG EAST Conference All-Tournament honoree junior Maria Vasilyeva, the Orange have not let youth get in their way.

Led by sophomore Ashley Spicer, Syracuse is 6-4 on the season. Spicer has posted a team-high eight singles victories. Spicer has paired up with freshman Simone Kalhorn at the No. 1 doubles position, where the duo has won two of their last three attempts.

Last weekend MU posted 6-1 and 7-0 victories against Northern Iowa and UW-Milwaukee, respectively.

Freshman Rachael Hush paces the Golden Eagles, boasting a 9-9 overall singles record. Against Northern Iowa, Hush combined with senior Erin Watkins to secure an 8-2 victory.

In the match against UW-Milwaukee, MU tallied 23 of a possible 24 set points. Marquette secured a doubles point with help of No. 1 doubles Christina Ruiz and Maria Calbeto, and No. 3 Shannon Brown and Maggie Wilson each winning 8-0.

Syracuse will play DePaul Saturday at 1 p.m., in Milwaukee before battling MU on Sunday.