April 21, 2005

Fort Worth, Texas - Third-seeded USF (8-7) defeated No. 14 seed Saint Louis 4-0 in the third match of the 2005 Conference USA Women's Tennis Championship. The Bills fall to 8-13 with the loss.

USF began the match by taking the doubles point as Liz Cruz and Courtney Vernon defeated Tara Grant and Tina Grasso 8-1 at No. 2. The team of Gabriela Duch and Neyssa Etienne beat Amanda Hellberg and Rachel McCullagh 8-3 at the one spot. Saint Louis suffered a forfeit at No. 3 doubles due to an injury-shortened roster.

In singles action, McCullagh lost to Duch 6-0, 6-0 at No. 3 singles while the Bulls' Cruz defeated Grasso 6-0, 6-1 at No. 4. Hellberg (SLU) and Etienne (USF) were knotted at four in the first set when play was suspended. SLU's Grant was losing to Vernon 6-1, 6-1 in the second set when the victory was claimed by USF. Saint Louis took forfeits at Nos. 5 and 6 singles.

Saint Louis will play Memphis Friday at 9 a.m. The Tigers lost 4-0 to DePaul in the second match of the championship.

In Singles Play:

1) Amanda Hellberg played Neyssa Etienne and was tied 4-4, but did not finish

2) Tara Grant played Courtney Vernon and was down 6-1, 1-0, but did not finish

3) Rachel McCullagh lost to Gabriela Duch 6-0, 6-0

4) Tina Grasso lost to Liz Cruz 6-0, 6-1

5) Billiken loss by forfeit

6) Billiken loss by forfeit

In Doubles Play:

1) Hellberg/McCullagh lost to Duch/Etienne, 8-3

2) Grant/Grasso lost to Cruz/Vernon, 8-1

3) Billiken loss by forfeit