Falcons Defeat Metro State and Montana State

March 13, 2004

The Air Force women's tennis improved its record to 8-4 this season with a pair of 6-1 victories Saturday at the Academy. The Falcons defeated Division II opponent Metro State College and Montana State.

After winning two of the three doubles matches against Metro, Air Force took five of the six singles matches, all in straight sets. Sophomore Kat Bushey and freshman Karissa Walker won the No. 1 doubles match, defeating Metro's Rebecca and Jess Meares, 8-4. Junior Miclynn Crail and her sister, freshman Kellie, sealed the doubles point for Air Force with an 8-6 decision over Taya Bachman and Tia Mahoney.

The Falcons dominated the singles matches, starting with senior Laura Nigro defeating Rebecca Meares, 6-4, 6-2, at the No. 1 position, followed by Bushey beating Jess Meares, 6-0, 6-1, at No. 2. Walker and junior Katie Tomkie followed suit, winning at Nos. 3 and 4, respectively, and Kellie Crail shut out Mahoney at the No. 6 spot, 6-0, 6-0. Bachman posted the only victory for Metro State, beating AFA's Kelly Morgan at No. 5, 6-4, 6-3.

Air Force dominated Montana State in much the same way, winning all three doubles matches in convincing fashion, with no team losing more than two games. The Falcons cruised through the first five singles matches, with Nigro and Bushey winning 6-0, 6-0 at Nos. 1 and 2, respectively.

Montana State's lone victory came at the No. 6 position, where Margaret Merrill-Johnson defeated the Falcons' Liza Vaccaro, 6-1, 6-1.

"It was great to play after having two weeks off," said Air Force head coach Kim Gidley. "We've played a lot of matches in practice this week and it is nice to play someone other than yourself. These matches are the first step for us, entering six weeks of straight play and the strongest part of our schedule to date."

Air Force returns to the court this Thursday, March 18, when it hosts Drake University at the Academy. The match is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m.

Air Force 6, Metro State 1

Singles
1. Laura Nigro (AFA) def. Rebecca Meares, 6-4, 6-2
2. Kat Bushey (AFA) def. Jess Meares, 6-0, 6-1
3. Karissa Walker (AFA) def. Mercedes Pollmie, 6-1, 6-1
4. Katie Tomkie (AFA) def. Natalie Ilott, 7-5, 6-1
5. Taya Bachman (Metro) def. Kelly Morgan, 6-4, 6-3
6. Kellie Crail (AFA) def. Tia Mahoney, 6-0, 6-0

Doubles
1. Bushey/Walker (AFA) def. Meares/Meares, 8-4
2. Pollmeier/Ilott (Metro) def. Morgan/Vaccaro, 8-6
3. Kellie Crail/Miclynn Crail (AFA) def. Bachman/Mahoney, 8-6

Air Force 6, Montana State 1

Singles
1. Laura Nigro (AFA) def. Roney, 6-0, 6-0
2. Kat Bushey (AFA) def. Schlosser, 6-0, 6-0
3. Karissa Walker (AFA) def. Becky Fry, 6-0, 6-1
4. Kelly Morgan (AFA) def. Lee Sowada, 6-2, 6-3
5. Kellie Crail (AFA) def. Jenni Howe, 6-1, 6-1
6. Margaret Merrill-Johnson (MSU) def. Liza Vaccaro, 6-1, 6-1

Doubles
1. Bushey/Walker (AFA) def. Schlosser/Howe, 8-1
2. Morgan/Tomkie (AFA) def. Roney/Sowada, 8-2
3. Crail/Vaccaro (AFA) def. Merrill-Johnson/Smith, 8-0

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