Jan. 26, 2004

NEWPORT NEWS, VA -- The Old Dominion University women's tennis team started the 2003-04 dual meet season on a high note, defeating George Washington, 6-1, at the indoor courts at the Center Court Racket Club in Newport News.

The Lady Monarchs swept through the doubles competition. Senior Nataly Cahana and freshman Fernada Luiz earned an 8-2 victory over Lindy First and Natasha Bode at No. 1 singles, while newcomer Larissa Santo and sophomore Coralie Herrmann blanked Mara Frisch and Anastasia Skavronskaia to give the Lady Monarchs the doubles point. Freshmen Barbara Kerner and Maria Martinez also earned a doubles win with a 8-6 victory over Sevla Gonca and Anne Watkins at No. 3 doubles.

Old Dominion won five of its six singles matches. Senior Nataly Chana (Qiriat Bialik, Israel), ranked 33rd in the latest ITA Polls, took home a 6-4, 6-0 victory over Mara Frisch at No. 1 singles. Sophomore Coralie Herrmann (Porrentruy, Switerland) earned her first win of the season with a 6-3, 6-3 win at No. 2 singles over Natasha Bode. Newcomer Fernada Luiz (Nova Lima, Brazil) picked up her first intercollegiate tennis victory with a three set, 6-4, 2-6, 6-2, decision over Sevla Gonca. Larissa Santos and Maria Martinez, who joined the Lady Monarchs this spring, rounded out the ODU victories. Santos, playing at No. 4 singles, defeated Anastasia Skavronskaia, 7-5, 6-4, while Martinez picked up a 6-3, 6-0 win at No. 5 singles against Mara Frisch.

Women's Tennis: Old Dominion 6 George Washington 1
(Friday, Jan. 22, 2004 at Center Court Racket Club)

Doubles:
1. Cahana/Luiz (ODU) d. First/Bode (GWU) 8-2
2. Santos/Herrmann (ODU) d. Frisch/Skavrenskaia (GWU) 8-0
3. Barbara Kerner/Martinez (ODU) d. Gonca/Watkins (GWU) 8-6

Singles:
1. Nataly Cahana (ODU) d. First (GWU) 6-4,6-0
2. Coralie Herrmann (ODU) d. Bode (GWU) 6-3,6-3
3. Fernada Luiz (ODU) d. Gonca (GWU) 6-4,2-6,6-2
4. Larissa Santos (ODU) d. Skavrenskaia (GWU) 7-5,6-4
5. Maria Martinez (ODU) d. Frisch (GWU) 6-3,6-0
6. Watkins (GWU) d. Barbara Kerner (ODU) 6-3,3-6,1-0