March 9, 2008

WEST POINT, N.Y.- The Marist women's tennis team got their first win of the season on Saturday afternoon versus Providence. The Red Foxes won all three doubles matches and four of six singles matches en route to a 5-2 win. Christine Ong (Tarazana, Calif.), Alexa Strange (Valencia, Calif.), Cassie Strange (Valencia, Calif.), and Natalie Fouche (Queens, N.Y.) were all double winners.

Ong rolled over Ashley Rissolo 6-0, 6-0 in first singles. Alexa Strange, also won a close one over Ayushi Sinha (7-5, 3-6, 6-4) in third singles.

Fouche cruised to an easy 6-0, 6-4 win over Jenn Cusack in fourth singles for the fourth singles point of the match.

Alexa Strange knocked off Gibson and Rissolo 8-2 in first doubles, while Ong and Cassie Strange defeated Cusack and Lyons 8-4 in second doubles. Fouche and Jeannie Lukin (Kinderhook, N.Y.) beat Finha and Kim Betzner 8-4 in the last doubles match.

"The entire team played well today," head coach Roge Nesbitt said. "We had some great wins in tight matches, and we had some players step up in a big way. I was really proud of the way Jeannie (Lukin) and Natalie (Fouche) played in singles."

The Red Foxes will head to Texas for their Spring Break trip next weekend.

Results

Doubles
Godly/A. Strange (M) def. Gibson/Rissolo (P) 8-2
Ong/C. Strange (M) def. Cusack/Lyons (P) 8-4
Fouche/Lukin (M) def. Finha/Betzner (P) 8-4

Singles
Ong (M) def. Rissolo (P) 6-0, 6-0
C. Strange (M) def. Gibson (P) 6-4, 6-7 (7-2), 6-2
A. Strange (M) def. Sinha (P) 7-5, 3-6, 6-4
Fouche (M) def. Cusack (P) 6-0, 6-4
Lyons (P) def. Lukin (M) 6-2, 4-6, 7-6 (7-5)
Betzner (P) def. Byron (M) 6-3, 6-2

Final Score
Marist 5, Providence 2