Lady Cougar Netters Fall 5-2 to Clayton State in Regional Final

Story courtesy Lee Wright, Clayton State Sports Information

MORROW, Ga. – Playing host to Peach Belt Conference rival Columbus in the second round of the 2010 NCAA Division II Southeast Regional, Clayton State came away with a thrilling 5-2 victory at Laker Courts. The victory was the seventh victory in the last eight matches for 10^th-ranked Clayton State, now 18-7 overall. 

Clayton State will play undefeated and third-ranked BYU-Hawaii on Wednesday in the “Sweet 16” in Altamonte Springs, Fla. 11^th-ranked Columbus State finishes its season at 20-6.

Clayton State gained some early momentum with a sweep in the doubles matches. Viktoriya Semyrodenko and Ivana Krommelova cruised to an 8-3 victory over Columbus State's Loriane Favoretto and Hanane Toumi, while both Katie White and Marie Cercellietti (No. 2) and Evelin Csizi and Jessica Budd (No. 3) both won 8-6 thrillers. White and Cercelletti edged the Lady Cougar team of Tracy Castillo and Sofia Persson, while Budd and Csizi rallied past Columbus State's Gabriela Vasilescu and Caterina Kiefer.

In singles, White quickly knocked off Favoretto 6-0, 6-3 at No. 1 for the Lakers, followed by a thrilling 6-4, 6-4 victory at No. 3 by Krommelova against Toumi.

Columbus State's two victories in singles were by Kiefer at No. 4 and Vasilescu at No. 5.

CLAYTON STATE 5, COLUMBUS STATE 3

Singles:

1. Katie White (CLS) d. Loriane Favoretto 6-0, 6-3

2. Viktoriya Semyrodenko (CLS) vs. Tracy Castillo (CS), unfinished

3. Ivanna Krommelova (CLS) d. Hanane Toumi 6-4, 6-4

4. Caterina Kiefer (CS) d. Marie Cercelletti 6-2, 7-5

5. Gabriela Vasilescu (CS) d. Evelin Csizi 6-1, 6-3

6. Jessica Budd (CLS) vs. Andrea Redrado (CS), unfinished

Doubles:

1. Semyrodenko/Krommelova (CLS) d. Favoretto/Toumi 8-3

2. White/Cercelletti (CLS) d. Castillo/Sofia Persson 8-6

3. Budd/Csizi (CLS) d. Vasilescu/Kiefer 8-6