April 21, 2005

USF advanced to the quarterfinals of the 2005 Conference USA Women's Tennis Championship at the Bayard H. Friedman Tennis Center following a 4-0 defeat of No. 14-seed Saint Louis on Thursday. The Bulls, which are seeded third in the four-day event, will have played in the quarterfinals each of the ten years of tournament history.

USF took the doubles point to start the match as the team of Gabriele Duch and Neyssa Etienne defeated the Billikens Amanda Hellberg and Rachel McCullagh, 8-3 at the top seed. The Bulls team of Courtney Vernon and Liz Cruz beat Tina Grasso and Tara Grant, 8-1 at No. 2, while neither team posted a tandem to compete at No. 3.

The Bulls' Duch swept McCullagh, 6-0, 6-0 at No. 3, while Cruz defeated Grasso at No. 4. Without an opponent, junior Luisa Obando claimed the finals singles win for her squad.

USF will move on to play the winner of Louisville and Marquette Friday at Noon (CST). In the consolation bracket, Saint Louis will face Memphis on Friday at 9 a.m.

Match #3 - Bayard H. Friedman Tennis Center
(3) USF 4, (14) Saint Louis 0

Singles 1. Neyssa Etienne, USF vs. Amanda Hellberg, SLU, DNF (4-4)
2. Courtney Vernon, USF vs. Tara Grant, SLU, DNF (6-1, 1-0)
3. Gabriela Duch, USF def. Rachel McCullagh, USF, 6-0, 6-0
4. Liz Cruz, USF def. Tina Grasso, SLU, 6-0, 6-1
5. Luisa Obando, USF (DF)

Doubles
1. Gabriela Duch/Neyssa Etienne, USF def. Amanda Hellberg/Rachel McCullagh, SLU, 8-3
2. Courtney Vernon/Liz Cruz, USF def. Tina Grasso/Tara Grant, SLU, 8-1