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March 15, 2006

CHARLOTTESVILLE – The Virginia women’s tennis team recorded one of the biggest wins in school history Wednesday, as they upset No. 19 ranked TCU 4-3 at the Indoor Tennis Stadium at the Boar’s Head Sports Club. The win was only the Cavaliers’ second win over a top 20 opponent in the past decade, and the first since 2003.

For the third consecutive match, the Cavaliers (7-5) took an early 1-0 lead by winning the doubles point. The No. 33 ranked team of Kristen James (Clifton, Va.) and Lori Stern (Ojai. Calif.) recorded their second win over a top 15 opponent in as many matches, defeating No. 15 ranked Helena Besovic and Anna Sydorska 8-3 at No. 1 doubles. The team of Caroline Hammond (Williamsburg, Va.) and Amanda Rales (Bethesda, Md.) clinched the opening point for the Cavaliers with an 8-4 win over Kewa Nichols and Andrea Morgado at No. 3 doubles.

In singles, the Horned Frogs (7-4) rallied to take a 2-1 lead in the match as No. 82 Sydorska defeated Stern at No. 4 singles and No. 12 Nicole Leimbach downed Douglas Wink (Greensboro, N.C.) at No. 1 singles. Virginia drew even in the match when Rachel DelPriore (Williamsville, N.Y.) rallied for a 2-6, 6-1, 6-2 win over Ana Cetnik at No. 3 singles. TCU retook the lead 3-2 when No. 41 Besovic defeated James at the No. 2 position. At that moment, the final two matches on the courts were beginning the third set, with the Cavaliers needing to win both for victory. Lindsey Pereira (Arlington, Texas) got the first of those wins for the Cavaliers, defeating Nichols 7-5, 1-6, 6-1 at No. 5 singles. A minute later, Rales clinched the win with her 6-1, 6-7, 6-2 win over Karine Ionseco at No. 6 singles.

The last time Virginia defeated a top 20 opponent was in 2003, when the Cavaliers downed the highest ranked opponent in school history, No. 14 Kentucky, 5-2 in a match played in Huntington, W.Va.

“We are so happy for all of the players on this team,” said Virginia head coach Mark Guilbeau. “They did this the right way. We made steady progress, through some close, hard-fought matches, a few very tough losses, and kept working towards getting that fourth point. To earn this win after such a difficult, yet positive, weekend, gives this win even more meaning. We know that there is a process in place to continue having these kind of results and we look forward to continuing the progress.”

The Cavaliers will return to conference play on March 25 when they host Duke at the Snyder Tennis Center.

No. 65 Virginia 4, No. 19 TCU 3

Doubles:
1. #33 James/Stern (UVa) def. #15 Besovic/Sydorska (TCU) 8-3
2. Cetnik/Ionseco (TCU) def. DelPriore/Wink (UVa) 8-4
3. Hammond/Rales (UVa) def. Nichols/Morgado (TCU) 8-4

Singles:
1. #12 Nicole Leimbach (TCU) def. Douglas Wink (UVa) 6-2, 7-5
2. #41 Helena Besovic (TCU) def. Kristen James (UVa) 6-3, 6-4
3. #125 Rachel DelPriore (UVa) def. #105 Ana Cetnik (TCU) 2-6, 6-1, 6-2
4. #82 Anna Sydorska (TCU) def. Lori Stern (UVa) 6-3, 6-1
5. Lindsey Pereira (UVa) def. Kewa Nichols (TCU) 7-5, 1-6, 6-1
6. Amanda Rales (UVa) def. Karine Ionseco (TCU) 6-1, 6-7, 6-2

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