April 2, 2007

Results

Daytona Beach, Fla. - Bethune-Cookman University women's tennis extended their winning streak out to nine matches on Monday afternoon with a decisive 5-2 victory over Binghamton University at the City Island Tennis Complex in Daytona Beach, Fla.

B-CU (19-2) is staring at history under head coach Trey Bogue, and this year's team looks poised at a run for the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference title. Having moved their season record to 9-1 in the league with a win over rival Florida A&M over the weekend, the Wildcats stepped out of conference play today for some more fun in the sun.

The `Cats jumped out t the quick lead by sweeping the doubles point, but it came with a hard fight at all positions.

B-CU's combination of Olga Ruislova and Kiara Powell joined forces for the 8-2 win over Binghamton's duo of Juliana Umeki and Lya Kushnirovich at the No. 1 doubles spot. The victory for the Wildcats team improved them to 17-2 on the season, as well as 20-8 for the year [including tournament play].

The best game, however, came at the No. 3 position. That's where the Wildcats' team of newcomers in the form of sophomore Monika Musilova and freshman Jeneice Ward teamed up for a hard-fought 8-7 (7-1) win over Danyelle Shapiro and Nicole Scarangella of Binghamton.

In singles play, Binghamton (9-2) used the power of Zeynep Altinay to grab the win at the No. 1 position. She fought off B-CU's Olga Ruislova on scores of 2-6, 6-2, 7-5 in one of the best matches of the day.

However, that would be one of just two wins for Binghamton in singles competition, as No. 2-5 for the Wildcats cleaned house for the eventual win.

Leading the charge for the `Cats was sophomore Kiara Powell who improved her season record to 19-1 in the spring (22-9 overall), as well as extending her individual winning streak to an incredible 19 matches in a row dating back to Feb. 19 against Mercer University. Powell fought off the charge of Binghamton's Lya Kushnirovich at the No. 3 position on scores of 2-6, 6-4, 6-1.

Monika Musilova kept her record for the spring clean with impressive 6-0, 6-0 wins over Danyelle Shapiro at the No. 4 position for the Wildcats. Musilova is now 20-0 in the spring, and 34-3 overall for the 2006-07 campaign.

Valerie Kendrick kept things going for the `Cats at the No. 5 position with a 7-5, 6-3 straight-set win over Nicole Scarangella. However, Jeneice Ward suffered a 6-2, 6-2 loss for B-CU to Binghamton's Erica Rosenblum at the No. 6 position.

The Wildcats will be back in action on Wednesday, Apr. 4 when they host the University of North Florida at 2 p.m. The action, as always, is free to the public, and will take place at the City Island Tennis Complex in Daytona Beach.