Jan. 28, 2007

The Eastern Washington University women's tennis team concluded its challenging stretch of three matches in three days, all at least 4,600 feet above sea level, with a 6-1 loss at Mountain West Conference-member Colorado State. The host Rams opened their 2007 campaign with the Sunday morning (Jan. 28) contest.  

Eastern's No. 1 doubles team of Kasey Knox and Kerstyn Dolack earned an impressive 8-5 win over CSU's top doubles tandem of Laura Neal and Lauren Strasburger. Unfortunately for the Eagles, Colorado State was able to claim the other two doubles contests to earn the doubles point.

Sayaka Yoshimoto earned Eastern's lone point of the contest with her initial win of the 2006-07 season in her first match played of the spring campaign. She defeated Kirsten Stople in a tight one, 9-8 (8-6). The Rams, however, were able to win the first four singles matches to complete play to go up, 5-0, and secure their win. The fifth court would also see the match be decided on a single eight-game set and Marie Demerath held tough with Greer Satherlie before falling, 9-7.

The Eagles (1-3), however, were able to secure an all-important Big Sky Conference victory on the road trip, defeating Northern Colorado in clutch fashion, 4-3, on Saturday.

Eastern now will take a well-deserved break from match competition before playing its first home match of the season versus 63rd-ranked Sacramento State at 1 p.m. on Feb. 9. The Hornets are 0-1 after falling to 11th-ranked Cal, 7-0, and play three more Pac-10 teams (Washington, No. 42 Oregon and No. 1 Stanford) before facing the Eagles.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Eastern Washington at Colorado State

Colorado State 6, Eastern Washington 1

Jan. 27, 2007, at Fort Collins, Colo.

Singles competition

1. Lauren Strasburger (CSU) def. Kasey Knox (EWU), 6-3, 6-3

2. Laura Neal (CSU) def. Kerstyn Dolack (EWU), 6-2, 6-1

3. Hilary Tyler (CSU) def. Rachel Berger (EWU), 6-1, 6-3

4. Anette Pohjalainen (CSU) def. Amanda Mankovits (EWU), 6-1, 6-1

5. Greer Satherlie (CSU) def. Marie Demerath (EWU), 9-7

6. Sayaka Yoshimoto (EWU) def. Kirsten Stople (CSU), 9-8 (6)