Feb. 6, 2003

MADISON, Wis.

The No. 11-ranked University of Tennessee Lady Vol tennis team suffered its first loss of the season on Thursday at the USTA/ITA National Team Indoor Championships in Madison, Wis. UT was dropped by seventh-seeded and No. 9-ranked UCLA, 4-3. The Orange and White are now 0-3 all-time versus the Bruins. Tennessee fell to 4-1 on the year with the loss, while the Bruins improved to 4-1.

UCLA steamrolled through the doubles at the No. 2 and 3 positions, winning by counts of 8-1 and 8-2. Freshman Jackie Carleton and sophomore Anya Loncaric clinched the point at the No. 3 hole by defeating senior Crystal Cleveland and sophomore Ashley Robards. The Lady Vols did pick up an 8-4 victory at one doubles over junior Sara Walker and freshman Laura Gordon thanks to senior Vilmarie Castellvi and freshman Melissa Schaub. The No. 22-ranked duo of Castellvi and Schaub is now 5-0 at the No. 1 position this spring and has won 11 straight contests dating back to last fall.

In the singles action, UCLA freshman Susi Wild picked up a straight set decision over sophomore Breanna Kray at the No. 4 slot, 6-0, 6-1, to give the Bruins a 2-0 lead. The loss dropped Kray to 3-2 in dual match play.

Soon afterwards, the Bruins gained a 3-0 advantage when 84th-rated rookie Jackie Carleton posted a 6-0, 6-2, victory over junior Tammy Encina at two. Encina's loss marked the first time during the 2002-03 campaign that she dropped back-to-back matches.

Loncaric sealed the win for the Bruins at six singles with a victory over Robards. After taking the first, 6-0, Loncaric fell in the second frame, 6-4. When the smoke cleared in the third and deciding frame, Loncaric had prevailed by a 7-5 count.

The next three matches that finished after UCLA had won belonged to the Lady Vols. Their first victory came from Schaub at three singles, where she dismantled sophomore Sarah Gregg, 6-0, 6-1. Fourth-ranked Castellvi recorded UT's next point at No. 1, where she defeated No. 6 Walker in three sets, 7-5, 5-7, (10-8). Cleveland was responsible for the final Big Orange score at five singles, as she too won a three setter over Gordon, 6-7(0), 6-3, (10-7).

Castellvi's wins in singles and doubles kept her perfect record in tact this spring. She is now 9-0 in singles and 8-0 in doubles for 2003. Her 2002-03 résumé includes overall singles and doubles marks of 20-3 and 12-1.

Next up on the Lady Vols' docket is a consolation matchup tomorrow at 9 a.m. CST. Their opponent will be determined tonight when all matches have concluded.

Final Score: #11 Tennessee (4-1) 3, #9 UCLA (4-1) 4

SINGLES
No. 1	#4 Vilmarie Castellvi (UT) def. #6 Sara Walker (UCLA)	7-5, 5-7, (10-8)
No. 2	#84 Jackie Carleton (UCLA) def. Tammy Encina (UT)	6-0, 6-2
No. 3	Melissa Schaub (UT) def. Sarah Gregg (UCLA)	6-0, 6-1
No. 4	Susi Wild (UCLA) def. Breanna Kray (UT)	6-0, 6-1
No. 5	Crystal Cleveland (UT) def. Laura Gordon (UCLA)	6-7(0), 6-3, (10-7)
No. 6	Anya Loncaric (UCLA) def. Ashley Robards (UT)	6-0, 4-6, 7-5
Order of Finish: 4, 2, 6*, 3, 1, 5
DOUBLES
No. 1	#22 Castellvi/Schaub (UT) def. Gordon/Walker (UCLA)	8-4
No. 2	Gregg/Wild (UCLA) def. Encina/Kray (UT)	8-1
No. 3	Carleton/Loncaric (UCLA) def. Cleveland/Robards (UT)	8-2
Order of Finish: 2, 3*, 1
* clinching point