Jan. 24, 2004

EAST LANSING, Mich. - Home openers are always a fun time for any collegiate program. Michigan State's women's tennis team made its event even better with a 6-1 trouncing of Bowling Green Saturday for its first win of the season. State's record moves to 1-2 overall (0-0 Big Ten) while the Falcons fall to 0-1 on the year.

"We played some tough competition last weekend and we are out for some wins this weekend," said head coach Tim Bauer. "It was a good start and we learned we are on the right track."

MSU climbed on top early by taking all three doubles matches for the first overall point. Caroline Lay and Keri Thompson combined at No. 1 for an 8-4 victory over Lisa Maloney and Susie Schoenberger while Sarah Andrews and Shelley Brady earned an 8-3 triumph at No. 2 over Andrea Meister and Heidi Romer. At No. 3, Jessica Baron and Pascale Schnitzer posted an 8-6 win against Cam Benjamin and Jessica Johnson.

In singles play, Thompson scored two donuts at No. 1, defeating Schoenberger, 6-0, 6-0. Lay shined as well with a 6-2, 6-4 win over Benjamin at No. 3 while Andrews picked up a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Rome at No. 4. State also nabbed points from Schnitzer, who defeated Johnson at No. 5, 6-4, 6-2, and Baron, who cruised past Meister at No. 6, 6-0, 6-1. BGSU's only point came at No. 2 in a tough match as Maloney squeezed by Brady, 7-5, 7-6.

"Afterwards, I told them to set their sights on improving their game," said Bauer. "They just had a match and a match is just like a test. You have to review it and see where you can improve. We have two matches this weekend and a couple of weeks to work on our game. So basically we have treat these like tests and see where you achieved, where you didn't and go to work on improving."

Saturday's Results vs. Bowling Green
Doubles
No. 1 Lay/Thompson (MSU) def. Maloney/Schoenberger (BGSU) 8-4
No. 2 Andrews/Brady (MSU) def. Meister/Romer (BGSU) 8-3
No. 3 Baron/Schnitzer (MSU) def. Benjamin/Johnson (BGSU) 8-6

Singles
No. 1 Keri Thompson (MSU) def. Susie Schoenberger (BGSU) 6-0, 6-0
No. 2 Lisa Maloney (BGSU) def. Shelley Brady (MSU) 7-5, 7-6
No. 3 Caroline Lay (MSU) def. Cam Benjamin (BGSU) 6-2, 6-4
No. 4 Sarah Andrews (MSU) def. Heidi Romer (BGSU) 6-3, 6-4
No. 5 Pascale Schnitzer (MSU) def. Jessica Johnson (BGSU) 6-4, 6-2
No. 6 Jessica Baron (MSU) def. Andrea Meister (BGSU) 6-0, 6-1
Michigan State defeats Bowling Green, 6-1