Women's Tennis Drops NCAA Tourney Match
Big Rapids, Mich. - The Ferris State University women's tennis squad had its season come to an end on Tuesday (May 3) as the Bulldogs fell to top-seeded Grand Valley State by a 5-3 count in the NCAA Division II Midwest Regional Championships.
The host Lakers fought back from a 2-1 deficit following doubles play and won four of the first five completed singles matches to notch the regional final triumph in the second round of the national tournament.
FSU ends the 2010-11 campaign with a 20-5 overall record while the unbeaten Lakers (31-0) advance to the 2011 NCAA Division II National Championships and the round of 16 on May 11-14 in Altamonte Springs, Fla.
The Bulldogs had previously beat Wayne State by a 5-2 count in Monday's (May 2) opening round of the regional tournament at the Ramblewood Tennis & Fitness Club in Grandville (Mich.). The match was the first of the NCAA Tournament for the Lakers, who earned a first round bye.
The FSU tandem of seniors Amy Ingle and Tiffany Rheynard were 9-8 (7-2) winners at the number one doubles flight. Fellow senior Alina Stanila teamed up with junior Melissa Flowers for an 8-4 win at the second doubles position as Ferris State grabbed a 2-1 edge after the doubles round.
Stanila recorded the Bulldogs' lone victory in singles competition as she beat GVSU's Tara Hayes by a 6-2, 6-1 score at the number one flight. All four of Grand Valley State's singles victories came in straight-sets.
The number five singles position was the deciding match as the second singles flight had just moved to a 2-2 score in the third set when GVSU claimed the fifth set.
Ferris State was making its 19th overall NCAA Tournament appearance, including a second-straight showing.
Overall, FSU's 20 victories this campaign are tied for the fourth-most seasonal wins in Bulldog women's tennis history and are the most since winning 22 matches in the 2000-01 campaign.
Below are the complete match results:
#16 Grand Valley State 5, #42 Ferris State 3
May 03, 2011 at Allendale, Mich. (Laker Tennis Courts)
| Singles competition |
| 1. Alina Stanila (FS) def. Tara Hayes (GV) 6-2, 6-1 |
| 2. Niki Shipman (GV) vs. Amy Ingle (FS) 4-6, 6-2, 2-2, unfinished |
| 3. Chelsea Johnston (GV) def. Tiffany Rheynard (FS) 6-1, 6-2 |
| 4. Lexi Rice (GV) def. Tabitha Simpson (FS) 6-0, 6-1 |
| 5. Darylann Trout (GV) def. Melissa Flowers (FS) 6-1, 7-5 |
| 6. Anne Marie Morin (GV) def. Natalie Diorio (FS) 6-2, 6-1 |
| Doubles competition |
| 1. Amy Ingle/Tiffany Rheynard (FS) def. Chelsea Johnston/Darylann Trout (GV) 9-8 (7-2) |
| 2. Alina Stanila/Melissa Flowers (FS) def. Katelyn Schaffer/Alyssa Lucas (GV) 8-4 |
| 3. Niki Shipman/Lexi Rice (GV) def. Tabitha Simpson/Natalie Diorio (FS) 8-5 |