Issued: September 7, 2002

WOMEN'S TENNIS CLAIMS WHITEWATER INVITE TITLE

WHITEWATER - Winning three of six flights, the UW-Eau Claire women's tennis team claimed the championship of the UW-Whitewater Warhawk Invitational here Saturday.

Senior Alison Hover (St. Cloud, MN/Tech) captured the No. 1 singles crown while freshman Laurie Alonso (Austin, MN) claimed the No. 2 singles title. The No. 1 doubles team of Jennifer Stafford (Jr.-Cross Plains/Middleton) and Megan Tauer (Sr.-Stillwater, MN) also was victorious.

The Blugolds of second-year coach Tom Gillman scored 37 points to outdistance seven other schools in the field. UW-La Crosse and host Whitewater both scored 29 with Augustana, Illinois earning 21, UW-Oshkosh 18, UW-Stevens Point 9, Beloit College 2 and Wisconsin Lutheran 0.

Hover beat Oshkosh's Debbie Ashenbrenner, 6-2, 2-6, 6-2 in the championship match at No. 1 after earning straight set wins over Augustana's Christina Seaba and Whitewater's Jenny Hubacek.

Alonso earned three consecutive 6-2, 6-0 triumphs, defeating Beloit's Crystal Ertman, La Crosse's Louie Dubinski and Whitewater's Jenni Stamm.

After getting by Oshkosh's Diana Treu and Lauren Young in three sets, the Blugold tandem of Stafford and Tauer gained straight set wins over La Crosse and Whitewater duos to claim their title.

At No. 3 singles, freshman Katie Steffes (St. Joseph, MN/Apollo) lost a three-set semifinal match but came back to defeat La Crosse's Stephanie Kill in three sets for third place.

The Blugolds' No. 2 doubles unit of Becky Hollinger (So.-Jefferson) and Molly Cadwell (Jr.-Fridley, MN) lost the championship match to La Crosse's Appe Palecak and Becky Bryant, 3-6, 6-0, 6-4. The No. 3 doubles team of Tara Anderson (So.-Litchfield, MN) and Lindsay Lee (So.-Eau Claire/Memorial) lost its first match but came back with two straight wins to take the consolation championship.

The Blugolds return to action Thursday with a dual meet against UW-Stout at Menomonie.