ELIZABETHTOWN COLLEGE WOMEN'S TENNIS
Saturday, October 2, 2004

Elizabethtown Defeats Moravian for First Time Since 1995, Improves to 11-0 Overall, 7-0 in Commonwealth Conference

ELIZABETHTOWN, Pa. --- By edging Moravian 6-3 in a long match full of close competitions as well as a change in venue, Elizabethtown improved to 11-0 overall and 7-0 in the Commonwealth Conference. Moravian, which won four consecutive old Middle Atlantic Conference titles from 2000 to 2003, dropped to 10-2 overall and 6-1 in the Commonwealth. By defeating Moravian, the Blue Jays clinched first place in the conference regular season standings and sealed home court advantage for the duration of next week's Commonwealth Conference team playoffs, which are replacing the old MAC title. Elizabethtown also now possesses its best record ever through 11 matches.

The match began at Etown's Alumni Courts, but after it began to rain halfway through the match, the remainder was moved to an indoor facility at Racquet Club West near Millersville, Pa.

Etown began the match by sweeping all three doubles matches, but it was not an easy task. Emma Smith (Moorestown, NJ/Moorestown) and Mel Parenteau (Marydel, MD/North Caroline) had the least rough time at number two, winning 8-4. At number three, Heather Lander (Accident, MD/Northern Garrett) and Lisa Mervine (Reading, PA/Governor Mifflin) ground out a 9-7 win that was close from start to finish. Etown's number one team of Stacy Shapiro (Audubon, PA/Methacton) and Kristy Trimbey (Doylestown, PA/Central Bucks West) fell behind early and were almost finished off, losing in their match by a 7-4 score at one point. However, the two mounted an eleventh hour comeback and wound up winning five straight games to win the match 9-7.

Shapiro pulled off the comeback once again in number one singles, as she dropped her first set 4-6, won the second set 7-5, and then won a 13-11 marathon tiebreaker (match tiebreakers are supposed to go to 10 points). Lisa Abel (Downingtown, PA/Downingtown) posted a 7-5, 6-4 win for Etown at number four singles, and Lander won a 3-6, 6-3, 6-1 comeback match at number five.

Etown will return to action Monday, October 4 on the road against Goucher College in a 3:30 p.m. non-conference match. The Commonwealth Conference playoffs will begin Wednesday, October 6 with the Blue Jays hosting the number four seed at 3:00 p.m.

Elizabethtown College 6, Moravian College 3
Singles competition:
1. Stacy Shapiro (ETOWN) def. Becky Deringer (MOR) 4-6, 7-5, (13-11)
2. Marion Berry (MOR) def. Emma Smith (ETOWN) 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7-3)
3. Nicole Gruber (MOR) def. Mel Parenteau (ETOWN) 1-6, 6-4, 6-1
4. Lisa Abel (ETOWN) def. Jillian Iacovelli (MOR) 7-5, 6-4
5. Heather Lander (ETOWN) def. Leah Bradshaw (MOR) 3-6, 6-3, 6-1
6. Brittany Popaca (MOR) def. Kristy Trimbey (ETOWN) 6-1, 6-4
Doubles competition:
1. Stacy Shapiro/Kristy Trimbey (E) def. Becky Deringer/Jillian Iacovelli (M) 9-7
2. Emma Smith/Mel Parenteau (E) def. Julie Anderson/Katie Cooke (M) 8-4
3. Heather Lander/Lisa Mervine (E) def. Leah Bradshaw/Nicole Gruber (M) 9-7