March 26, 2006

BIG RAPIDS, Mich.--The Lake Superior State women's tennis team had one of its most exciting wins of the season Sunday afternoon when it upset Ferris State 5-4. The Bulldogs had beaten the Lakers 9-0 back in September making the win even more special for the team. Ferris State was ranked 26th in the Fila Division II Collegiate Tennis Rankings for the country. The Lakers improved their record to 11-10.

"Our win in the second doubles match was critical to our winning the match," Lakers' coach Charlie Drury said. "Our number one and number three doubles teams both had lost, and it is hard to go into the singles matches down 0-3. The second doubles team had struggled against both Wayne State and Grand Valley. Megan LaMothe and Alex Chiakmakis regrouped themselves and won with an 8 game tie breaker. Winning that match lifted the girls' spirits because with the win we were only down by one match."

"We had lost to the Ferris double's team during the season," LaMothe said. "We were the underdogs going into the match and weren't expected to win. That meant that there was not a lot of pressure on us. We always felt like we would come back to win the match no matter what the outcome was in doubles. We always thought we could come back in singles.

"Celina has had big wins all season long," Drury said about one of his top players. "She is one of the top players in the GLIAC and has beaten the top player from Northwood, Ferris, and Grand Valley which are some of the top teams in the conference. This team all season has won a lot of 5-4 matches. We win as a team because we win at a lot of different positions."

The win against Ferris State was one of the best wins of the seasons for the Lakers.

"The win meant a lot for our team," Drury said. "We lost to Ferris State 9-0 during the season. We have had four months off since the girl's season for the GLIAC. For us to come back after that break and come back and beat them showed how much hard work and determination our girls have."

The team will wrap up its season play this weekend when it will play three matches in Indianapolis. LSSU will meet Southern Indiana, Indianapolis, and Drury. At the conclusion of the weekend, the team will be waiting to find out if it has earned a chance to play in the NCAA regionals for the first time in school history.

Singles results:

1. Celina Grondin (LSSU) def. Molly Basha (FS) 5-7, 6-2, 6-4

2. Leila Salek (FS) def. Sophie Bedard (LSSU) 6-2, 6-0

3. Megan LaMothe (LSSU) def. Allison Halbert (FS) 6-3, 6-3

4. Jenna O'Dell (FS) def. Megan Smith (LSSU) 7-5, 6-2

5. Alex Chiakmakis (LSSU) def. Ann Grant (FS) 3-6, 7-6 (7-5), 6-4

6. Carolyn Pumford (LSSU) def. Kelly Ewert (FS) 6-1, 6-1

Doubles results:

1. Salek/Halbert (FS) def. Grondin/Bedard (LSSU) 8-2

2. LaMothe/ Chiakmakis (LSSU) def. O'Dell/Grant (FS) 9-8 (7-4)

3. Basha/ Ewert (FS) def. Smith/ Pumford (LSSU) 8-4