Marshall upends Tech, 5-2

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. - The Virginia Tech women’s tennis team suffered a 5-2 defeat Saturday afternoon against No. 69 Marshall in a match played at the Huntington Tennis Club. Marshall improved to 8-0 on the year with its third consecutive win over a nationally-ranked opponents, while Tech fell to 3-2 on the year.

Tech, ranked No. 49 in this week’s ITA national poll, dropped all three doubles matches to relinquish the first point of the day, then dropped four of the six singles contests.

In singles action, Yasmin Hamza (Jr., Cairo, Egypt) won a tight, 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (5), match at No. 3 over Dominika Zaprazna and Emily Lauten (Fr., Marietta, Ga.) took the No. 6 contest, 6-4, 6-3, against Kristina Koprcina.

In other single results, Martha Blakely (So., Reading, Pa.), ranked No. 96, put up a tough upset bid before succumbing, 7-5, 6-4, in the No. 1 match against 35th-ranked Michaela Kissell. Christin Newman (Fr., Greensboro, N.C.) lost, 0-6, 7-6 (4), 6-2, at No. 2 versus Isabell Raich, Shannon Betts (So., Newnan, Ga.) suffered her first defeat of the young dual match season, 6-2, 3-6, 6-4, against Catherine Kellner and Courtney Rauscher (So., Evans, Ga.) fell, 7-5, 6-2, in her No. 5 contest against Deanna Bailey.

Marshall swept the doubles competition to open the day as Betts/Newman lost, 8-4, to 14th-ranked Kissell/Zapranza at No. 1 and Blakely/Holly Johnson (Jr., Tallahassee, Fla.) lost, 8-4, at No. 2 to Kara Kucin/Raich. The Thundering Herd completed the doubles sweep as Hamza/Lauten fell, 8-5, at No. 3 versus Bailey/Thaddea Lock.

The Hokies return to the Burrows-Burleson Tennis Center on Sat. Feb. 20, for a doubleheader against No. 44 Virginia Commonwealth (11 a.m.) and Davidson (4 p.m.).


#69 Marshall 5, #49 Virginia Tech 2
Singles
1. #35 Michaela Kissell (MU) def. #96 Martha Blakely (VT) 7-5, 6-4
2. Isabell Raich (MU) def. Christin Newman (VT) 0-6, 7-6 (4), 6-2
3. Yasmin Hamza (VT) def. Dominika Zaprazna (MU) 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (5)
4. Catherine Kellner (MU) def. Shannon Betts (VT) 6-2, 3-6, 6-4
5. Deanna Bailey (MU) def. Courtney Rauscher (VT) 7-5, 6-2
6. Emily Lauten (VT) def. Kristina Koprcina (MU) 6-4, 6-3

Doubles
1. #14 Kissell/Zaprazna (MU) def. Betts/Newman (VT) 8-4
2. Kara Kucin/Raich (MU) def. Blakely/Holly Johnson (VT) 8-4
3. Bailey/Thaddea Lock (MU) def. Hamza/Lauten (VT) 8-5