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2002 Laker Season


 Clayton State's Jackeline Nieto named NCAA Division II Tennis All-American

Morrow, GA --- June 6, 2002 --- The Clayton College & State University women's tennis program has accomplished several "firsts" over the last two seasons, and had another one earlier this week as sophomore tennis player Jackeline Nieto became the first CCSU player ever to be named a NCAA Division II tennis All-American.

Selected by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association, the governing body of college tennis, players had to be ranked among the top 20 individuals or the top 10 doubles teams in the nation to be named to the squad.

Nieto, the 15th-ranked player in the nation, was one of five Peach Belt Conference players named to the squad. Zsofia Golopencza, ranked the #1 singles player in the nation for Division II, was one of three Armstrong Atlantic State University players to be included on the list along with 11th-ranked Annamaria Forgacs and 16th-ranked Michaela Kratochvilova. Georgia College & State University’s Julia Roudkovskaya, the sixth-ranked player, was also named to the squad.

Nieto (Caracas, Venezuela), who was named the nation's 2002 ITA Player to Watch and to the 2002 Peach Belt All-Conference team finished with a 13-8 record and had several impressive victories in 2002. She defeated the fifth-ranked singles player in Lynn University's Monika Mastalirova 6-2 and 6-3, and the 14th-ranked player in Rollins College's Vanessa Caddick.

Clayton State's sixth All-American in its 12-year history, Nieto is the second CCSU female athlete to receive All-American honors in the last two weeks. Senior Joni Guffey, Frankfort, KY, was named a Division II Track & Field All-American in 1500m after placing sixth in the event at the Division II National Championships.

Nieto joins Guffey and men's soccer player Josh Grenier, who was named an All-American in 2000, as the school's only first-team All-Americans. Men's golfers Adam Short and Dave Kelly received second-team and third-team honors in 1999, while men's basketball player Robert Conley received third team honors in 1998-99.

As a team, Clayton State's women's tennis squad finished the season ranked tenth in the final ITA poll and received its first-ever bid to the round of 16 in the NCAA Championships in 2002. The squad advanced to the NCAA quarterfinals out of the Mid-Atlantic Regional after winning matches against Lees-McRae and North Florida. The Lakers' season came to an end at nationals falling to Abilene Christian. CCSU posted a 16-8 overall record and was the 2002 runner-up in the Peach Belt Conference with a 9-1 mark.

Clayton State's appearance in the 16-team national championship event capped a two-year run by the Lakers, which includes a 33-11 dual match record, the 2001 Peach Belt Conference Championship and a runner-up finish for the 2002 PBC title.

####CCSU####

Clayton State ranked 10th in final 
ITA Division II Women's tennis poll

Morrow, GA --- June 2, 2002 --- For the second year in a row, the Clayton College & State University women's tennis team has been recognized as one of the top-10 tennis teams in NCAA Division II. The Lakers were ranked 10th in the final Intercollegiate Tennis Association poll released last week.

Clayton State received its first-ever bid to the round of 16 in the NCAA Championships in 2002, advancing out of the Mid-Atlantic Regional after winning matches against Lees-McRae and North Florida. The Lakers' season came to an end against Abilene Christian in the NCAA quarterfinals. CCSU posted a 16-8 overall record and was the 2002 runner-up in the Peach Belt Conference with a 9-1 mark.

In 2002, the Lakers defeated seven squads ranked among the top 36 teams in the nation, including three teams in the top 15. Seven of Clayton State's eight losses came against a team that was either ranked in the top 10 in Division II or ranked first or second in NAIA. Its other loss came at the hands of 11th-ranked North Florida 5-4, a squad the Lakers defeated twice during the season.

Clayton State's appearance in the 16-team national championship event capped a two-year run by the Lakers, which includes a 33-11 dual match record, the 2001 Peach Belt Conference Championship and a runner-up finish for the 2002 PBC title.

In addition to the team finishing the season ranked, Clayton State had two players recognized among the nation's best as top-seeded Jackeline Nieto and second-seeded Nathalia Collantes were ranked 15th and 33rd, respectively.

Nieto (Caracas, Venezuela), who was named the nation's 2002 ITA Player to Watch and to the 2002 Peach Belt All-Conference team, finished with a 13-8 record and had several impressive victories in 2002. She defeated the fifth-ranked singles player in Lynn University's Monika Mastalirova 6-2 and 6-3, and the 14th-ranked singles player in Rollins College's Vanessa Caddick.

Collantes (Bucaramanga, Colombia), who was also named to the All-PBC team, finished the season with a 14-7 record. Her top victories came against Armstrong Atlantic State University's Michaela Kratochvilova, the 16th-ranked player in the nation and Georgia College & State University's Annika Persson, the 30th-ranked player.

####CCSU####

Clayton State's Nieto named 2002 ITA
Division II's Player to Watch

Morrow, GA --- May 13, 2002 -- The Clayton College & State University women's tennis team enjoyed one of its best-ever seasons in 2002, and its success didn’t go unnoticed on the national level as sophomore Jackeline Nieto was named the 2002 ITA Women's Tennis Player to Watch.

She received the award at the 2002 Division II Tennis National Championships held in Kansas City, MO, site of this year's tournament. The announcement was made at an award's banquet held at Arrowhead Stadium, home of the National Football's League's Kansas City Chiefs.

Nieto, the top-seeded player on Clayton State's squad, led the team to a 16-8 record in 2002, a runner-up finish in the 2002 PBC, a 10th place ranking in the country and its first-ever appearance in the 16-team NCAA Women's Tennis Championships.

Named earlier this year to the Peach Belt All-Conference team in singles and doubles, she finished the season with a 13-8 record in singles and a 14-8 mark in doubles with All-PBC partner Nathalia Collantes.

Nieto, from Caracas, Venezuela, and the 11th-ranked player in the nation, had several impressive victories in the 2002 campaign, including a 6-2 and 6-3 win over Lynn University's Monika Mastalirova, the No. 2 ranked player in the nation, and member of the 2001 Division II national championship team. She also defeated Rollins College's No. 1 seeded player Vanessa Caddick, who is ranked 13th in the country 6-2 and 6-3.

In doubles, she and Collantes were ranked 10th in the nation and had their top victory against Rollins' 14th ranked team of Caddick and Frances Giron 8-2.

Clayton State's season recently came to an end, falling in the 2002 NCAA Championships to Abilene Christian 5-1. The team's appearance in the 16-team National Championship event was its first and caps a two-year run by the Lakers, which includes a 33-11 record, the 2001 Peach Belt Conference Championship, runner-up to the 2002 PBC title and an appearance in the 16-team Nationals.

Peach Belt Conference rival Armstrong Atlantic State University, ranked No. 2 in the country, fell today (Monday, May 13) to top-ranked BYU Hawaii in the NCAA Division II National Championship match 5-1.

###CCSU###

Clayton State netters fall 5-1 in NCAA Nationals to Abilene Christian

Kansas City, MO--April 9, 2002 -- The Clayton College & State University women's tennis team's season came to an end Thursday in the first round of the 16-team NCAA Women's Tennis Championships, falling to Abilene Christian University 5-1 in Kansas City, MO.

The Lakers, ranked 10th in the country, end the season with a 16-8 record, while Abilene Christian improves to 24-5. The Wildcats will return to the court for Friday's quarterfinal round against top-ranked and undefeated BYU-Hawaii (26-0).

The Lakers jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the match as the top-seeded team of Jackeline Nieto and Nathalia Collantes won 8-5 before ACU bounced back and took a lead 2-1 by winning the other two doubles matches.

At No. 2 doubles, the Clayton State team of Aline Quintal and Natalia Koulechova fell 8-6, while the third-seeded team of Amina Wojcik and Fernanda Zurita also dropped its match 8-6.

In singles, Abilene Christian took a 4-1lead as sixth-seeded Fernanda Zurita fell 7-5 and 6-0, followed by fifth-seeded Wojcik falling 6-2 and 6-3. ACU captured its fifth and deciding point as top-seeded Nieto fell 6-2, 6-7 and 6-3.

Collantes' match at No. 2 singles, Quintal's match at No. 3 singles and Koulechova's match at No. 4 singles were not completed since Abilene Christian had secured the team victory.

Clayton State's appearance in the event was its first and caps a two-year run by the Lakers, which includes a 33-11 record, the 2001 Peach Belt Conference Championship, runner-up to the 2002 PBC title and an appearance in the nationals.

Singles
No. 1 - Lacy Johnson (ACU) def. Jackeline Nieto (CCSU)  6-2, 6-7, 6-2
No. 2 - Nathalia Collantes (CCSU) DNF match
No. 3 - Aline Quintal (CCSU) DNF match
No. 4 - Natalia Koulechova (CCSU) DNF match
No. 5 - Summer Beesley (ACU) def. Amina Wojcik (CCSU) 6-2, 6-3
No. 6 - Rachel Taylor (ACU) def. Fernanda Zurita (CCSU) 7-5, 6-0

Doubles
No. 1 - Nieto/Collantes (CCSU) def. Johnson/Kristin Chumley (ACU) 8-5
No. 2 - Sarah Taweel/Andi Wildner (ACU) def. Quintal/Koulechova (CCSU) 8-6
No. 3 - Taylor/Joy Israel (ACU) def. Zurita/Wojcik (CCSU) 8-6
Records: CCSU (16-8); ACU (24-5)

###CCSU###

Clayton State to face Abilene Christian in
1st round of NCAA Championships

Morrow, GA---May 6, 2002 -- The Clayton College & State University women's tennis team will open the 2002 NCAA Division II Women's Tennis Championships on Thursday, May 9, against Abilene Christian at the Plaza Tennis Center  in Kansas City, MO. The match will begin at 8 a.m. CDT.

The ninth-ranked Lakers (16-7) advanced to the "Sweet-16" of the NCAA Championships by defeating eighth-ranked North Florida 5-3 on Sunday in the second round of the Mid-Atlantic Regionals. Clayton State's appearance in the 16-team NCAA Championships will be its first in the program's seven-year history.

Abilene Christian (20-6), out of the Lone Star Conference, advanced to the tournament by defeating Cameron 5-0 in the Central Regional's first round, followed by defeating Eastern New Mexico in the second round. Abilene Christian was ranked 15th in the country in the latest ITA Division II poll.

The winner of Thursday's match will advance to the quarterfinals and face the winner of Brigham Young-Hawaii and Northern Michigan. BYU-Hawaii is the nation's top-ranked team and has a 25-0 record on the season.

Other teams advancing to the NCAA Championships were: West Florida, Metropolitan State, Millersville, Lynn, Barry, Bloomsburg, Northwood, UC San Diego, Ouachita Baptist, Nortern Colorado, Northeastern State and Armstrong State.

Peach Belt Conference rival Armstrong State, the nation's second-ranked team, advanced from the other half of Clayton State's Mid-Atlantic Region and will face Northeastern State on Thursday.

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Clayton State defeats North Florida 5-3;
advances to 16-team NCAA Championships

Morrow, GA---May 5, 2002 -- The Clayton College & State University women's tennis team captured its "sweetest" victory in school history Sunday, defeating the University of North Florida to advance to the "Sweet-16" of the NCAA Championships in Kansas City, MO.

The ninth-ranked Lakers accomplished the feat at the Clayton State Tennis Complex, pulling out a 5-3 victory in the second round of the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional against its eighth-ranked Peach Belt Conference rival.

Sixth-seeded Fernanda Zurita captured the fifth and deciding point, defeating UNF's Julie Stoppelli 6-2, 3-6 and 6-4. Zurita's singles victory was her first in three attempts this year against Stoppelli.

With the win, the Lakers (16-7) advance to the Division II Nationals for the first time in school history and await their first round opponent. Matches will begin on Thursday, May 9, and run through Sunday, May 12.

In Sunday's matches, North Florida (16-12) jumped out to an early lead winning two of the three doubles matches. UNF's third-seeded Liliana Liun Hung and Julie Stopelli blanked Amina Wojcik and Zurita 8-0 for its first point. Second-seeded Allison Rowe and Nicole Morris gave the Ospreys a 2-0 lead, defeating Aline Quintal and Natalia Koulechova 8-4.

Clayton State's top-seeded team of Jackeline Nieto and Nathalia Collantes, the 10-ranked team in the country, cut the deficit to 2-1, beating the team of Claudia Schiffczyk and Allison Davidson 8-5.

In singles, Clayton State stormed back, led by fourth-seeded Koulechova evening the score at 2-2 with a 6-3, 6-3 victory over Davidson. Second-seeded Collantes, the 21st-ranked player in the country, gave Clayton State a 3-2 lead with a 6-2, 6-3 victory over Rowe, while top-seeded Nieto, the 11th-ranked player in the nation, pushed CCSU's advantage to 4-2 with a 7-5, 6-3 win over Schiffczyk.

UNF's fifth seed Hung cut the Clayton State lead to 4-3 with a 6-3, 6-3 win over Wojcik, only to have CCSU's Zurita come back with a three-set victory at the sixth seed for the deciding point.

The third-seeded singles match between Clayton State's Quintal and UNF's Morris was split at one set apiece when the Lakers picked up their fifth point.

The win was especially "sweet" for the Lakers as it avenged a 5-4 loss to the Lady Ospreys in the Peach Belt Conference Tournament earlier this season. Clayton State defeated North Florida 5-4 during the regular season. The win was also satisfying in that last year, the Lakers fell 5-4 to Rollins in the second round of the South Regionals, coming one point shy of advancing to the 16-team NCAA Championships.

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(1)Clayton State 5, (2)North Florida 3

Singles
No. 1 - Jackeline Nieto (CCSU) def. Claudia Schiffczyk (UNF) 7-5, 6-3
No. 2 - Nathalia Collantes (CCSU) def. Alison Rowe 6-2, 6-3
No. 3 - Aline Quintal (CCSU) vs. Nichole Morris (UNF) DNF
No. 4 - Natalia Koulechova (CCSU) def. Allison Davidson (UNF) 6-3, 6-3
No. 5 - Liliana Liun Hung (UNF) def. Amina Wojcik (CCSU) 6-3, 6-3
No. 6 - Fernanda Zurita (CCSU) def. Julie Stoppelli (UNF) 6-2, 3-6, 6-4

Doubles
No. 1 - Nieto/Collantes (CCSU) def. Schiffczyk/Davidson (UNF) 8-5
No. 2 - Rowe/Morris (UNF) def. Quintal/Koulechova (CCSU) 8-4
No. 3 - Stoppelli/Hung (UNF) def. Zurita/Wojcik (CCSU) 8-0
Records: CCSU (16-7); UNF (16-12)

Clayton State defeats Lees-McRae 5-2 in first round of Mid-Atlantic Regional

Morrow, GA---May 3, 2002 ---Trailing 2-1 after doubles play, the ninth-ranked Clayton College & State University women's tennis team stormed back to win four straight singles matches, en route to a 5-2 victory over 30th-ranked Lees-McRae in the first round of the NCAA Division II Mid-Atlantic Regional at the Clayton State tennis complex.

Sophomore Aline Quintal (Coatzacoalcos, Mexico) clinched the match for the Lakers, picking up the fifth point at No. 3 singles. After winning the first set, Quintal was down 5-4 in the second set before rallying for a 7-5 victory.

With the win, the Lakers improve to 15-7 on the season and advance to the second round on Sunday at 11 a.m. against North Florida. The winner of Sunday's second round match will advance to the 16-team NCAA National Championships to be held May 9-12 in Kansas City, MO.

In doubles, Lees-McRae jumped out to an early, winning the two top seeds. Top-seeded Ana Skafar (Ljubljana, Slovenia) and Deniz Emr (Istanbul, Turkey) defeated CCSU's 10th-ranked Jackeline Nieto (Caracas, Venezuela) and Nathalia Collantes (Bucaramanga, Colombia) 8-3, while the second-seeded LMC team of Zeynep Inanli (Istanbul, Turkey) and Marci Malanik (Tampa, FL) defeated Natalia Koulechova (Moscow, Russia) and Quintal 8-5.

Clayton State's third-seeded doubles team of Amina Wojcik (Virgil, Ontario) and Fernanda Zurita (Guayaquil, Ecuador) defeated Sarah Leake (Fresno, CA) and Christina Brown (Lillington, NC) 8-3.

In addition to Quintal's win in singles, fourth-seeded Koulechova defeated Malanik 6-4 and 6-2, fifth-seeded Wojcik defeated Leake 6-1 and 6-1 and sixth-seeded Zurita defeated Brown 6-2 and 6-1.

Both the first and second-seeded singles matches were not completed as the Lakers had already clinched the victory.

Clayton College & State 5, Lees-McRae 2
Singles
No. 1 - Jackeline Nieto (CCSU) def. Ana Skafar (LMC) DNF
No. 2 - Nathalia Collantes (GC&SU) def. Deniz Emre (LMC) DNF
No. 3 - Aline Quintal (CCSU) def. Zeynep Inanli (LMC) 6-2, 7-5
No. 4 - Natalia Koulechova (CCSU) def. Marei Malanik (LMC) 6-1, 6-2
No. 5 - Amina Wojcik (CCSU) def. Sarah Leake (LMC) 6-1, 6-1
No. 6 - Fernanda Zurita (CCSU) def. Christina Brown (LMC) 6-2, 6-1
Doubles
No. 1 - Skafar/Emre (LMC) def. Nieto/Collantes (CCSU) 8-3
No. 2 - Inanli/Malanik (LMC) def. Koulechova/Quintal (CCSU) 8-5
No. 3 - Zurita/Wojcik (CCSU) def. Leake/Brown (LMC) 8-3
Records: CCSU (15-7), LMC (18-5)

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Clayton State defeats GC&SU 5-4
for 3rd place in PBC Tournament

Jacksonville, FL---April 20, 2002---The Clayton College & State University women's tennis team bounced back after a tough loss Friday in the semifinals to capture third place in the Peach Belt Conference Championships Saturday, defeating Georgia College & State University 5-4 in Jacksonville, FL.

Tenth-ranked Clayton State, the No. 2 seed in the tournament, fell behind 2-1 after doubles play but came back to win four of the six singles matches to secure the victory in the consolation finals. Second-ranked Armstrong Atlantic State University, the tourney's top seed, cruised to a 5-0 win over 11th-ranked and No. 3 North Florida in the championship match.

With the win, the Lakers improve to 14-7 on the season, while 12th-ranked GC&SU, the No. 4 seed, falls to 13-9. Clayton State will now await an invitation to the NCAA Regionals to be held May 3-5.

Against GC&SU, third-seeded Aline Quintal (Coatzacoalcos, Mexico) defeated Karin Ramstrom 6-1, 6-7 and 6-4, while fourth-seeded Natalia Koulechova (Moscow, Russia) won 6-2 and 6-2 over Jodie Lobsiger. Fifth-seeded Amina Wojcik (Virgil, Ontario) defeated Kremena Vassileva 7-6 and 6-0, and sixth-seeded Fernanda Zurita (Guayaquil, Ecuador) blanked Elizabeth Williams 6-0 and 6-0.

Top seed and 10th-ranked Jackeline Nieto (Caracas, Venezuela) fell to sixth-ranked Julia Roudkovskaya 7-6 and 6-1, while second-seeded and 21st-ranked Nathalia Collantes (Bucaramanga, Colombia) retired after leading 2-6, 6-2 and 3-0 over 27th -ranked Annika Persson.

In doubles, Nieto and Collantes, the 10th-ranked doubles team, fell 8-5 to Roudkovskaya and Ranstrom, while the No. 2 team of Koulechova and Quintal fell to Persson and Lobsiger 8-3. The third-seeded team of Wojcik and Zurita defeated Vassileva and Williams 8-3.

(No. 2) Clayton College & State 5, (No. 4) Georgia College & State 4

Singles
No. 1 - Julia Roudkovskaya (GC&SU) def. Jackeline Nieto (CCSU) 7-6, 6-1
No. 2 - Annika Persson (GC&SU) def. Nathalia Collantes (CCSU) 2-6, 6-2, 3-0 (ret.)
No. 3 - Aline Quintal (CCSU) def. Karin Ramstrom (GC&SU) 6-1, 6-7, 6-4
No. 4 - Natalia Koulechova (CCSU) def. Jodie Lobsiger (GC&SU) 6-2, 6-2
No. 5 - Amina Wojcik (CCSU) def. Kremena Vassileva (GC&SU) 7-6, 6-0
No. 6 - Fernanda Zurita (CCSU) def. Elizabeth Williams (GC&SU) 6-0, 6-0

Doubles
No. 1 - Roudkovskaya/Ramstrom (GC&SU) def. Nieto/Collantes (CCSU) 8-5
No. 2 - Persson/Lobsiger (GC&SU) def. Koulechova/Quintal (CCSU) 8-3
No. 3 - Zurita/Wojcik (CCSU) def. Vassileva/Williams (GC&SU) 8-3

Records: CCSU (14-7), GC&SU (13-9)

Clayton State falls to UNF 5-4 in PBC Tournament semifinals; to face GC&SU in third place match Sat.

Jacksonville, FL---April 19, 2002---The Clayton College & State University women's tennis team came one point short of advancing to the finals of the Peach Belt Conference Tournament Championship, falling to the University of North Florida 5-4 Friday afternoon in Jacksonville, FL.

Tenth-ranked Clayton State (13-7) entered the tournament as the No. 2 seed, but was upset for the second straight year in the tournament semifinals by third-seeded North Florida, the 11th-ranked team in the country. The Lakers defeated North Florida 5-4 during the regular season.

With the loss, the Clayton State advances to the PBC consolation finals on Saturday and will face fourth-seeded Georgia College & State University at 11:30 a.m.. The Lady Bobcats fell to top-seeded Armstrong Atlantic State University on Friday 5-0.

Against UNF, the Lakers jumped out to an early lead winning two of the three doubles matches but lost four of the six singles matches. Two of the four losses in singles went three sets.

In singles, top-seed and 10th-ranked sophomore Jackeline Nieto (Caracas, Venezuela) won 2-6, 7-5 and 6-3 over Claudia Schiffczyk, while fourth-seeded Natalia Koulechova (Moscow, Russia) won over Allison Davidson 6-0 and 6-4.

Second-seeded and 21st-ranked Nathalia Collantes (Bucaramanga, Colombia) fell to Allison Rowe 1-6, 7-6 and 6-4, while third-seeded Aline Quintal (Coatzacoalcos, Mexico) fell 6-4 and 6-4 to Nichole Morris. Fifth-seeded Amina Wojcik (Virgil, Ontario) fell to Lilianan Liun Hung 6-4, 4-6, and 6-0, while sixth-seeded Fernanda Zurita (Guayaquil, Ecuador) was defeated 7-5 and 6-3 by Julie Stoppelli.

In doubles, Nieto and Collantes, the 10th ranked doubles team in Division II, won 9-8 (7-3), while the No. 2 team of Koulechova and Quintal defeated Rowe and Morris 9-8 (7-4). The third-seeded team of Wojcik and Zurita fell 8-3 to Stoppelli and Hung.

(No. 3) North Florida 5, (No. 2) Clayton College & State 4

Singles
No. 1 - Jackeline Nieto (CCSU) def. Claudia Schiffczyk (UNF) 2-6, 7-5, 6-3
No. 2 - Allison Rowe (UNF) def. Nathalia Collantes (CCSU) 1-6, 7-6, 6-4
No. 3 - Nichole Morris (UNF) def. Aline Quintal (CCSU) 6-4, 6-4
No. 4 - Natalia Koulechova (CCSU) def. Allison Davidson (UNF) 6-0, 6-4
No. 5 - Liliana Liun Hung (UNF) def. Amina Wojcik (CCSU) 6-4, 4-6, 6-0
No. 6 - Julie Stoppelli (UNF) def. Fernanda Zurita (CCSU) 7-5, 6-3

Doubles
No. 1 - Nieto/Collantes (CCSU) def. Schiffczyk/Davidson (UNF) 9-8 (7-3)
No. 2 - Koulechova/Quintal (CCSU) def. Rowe/Morris (UNF) 9-8 (7-4)
No. 3 - Stoppelli/Hung (UNF) def. Zurita/Wojcik (CCSU) 8-3
(tie-breaker)

Records: UNF (15-10), CC&SU (13-7)

Clayton State defeats USCS 5-2; advances
to semifinals against North Florida

Jacksonville, FL---April 18, 2002---The 10th-ranked Clayton College & State University women's tennis team opened the Peach Belt Conference tournament on a positive note, defeating the University of South Carolina Spartanburg 5-2.

With the win, the second-seeded Lakers (13-6) advance to the semifinals on Friday and face 11th-ranked North Florida at 11 a.m. Clayton State defeated UNF 5-4 earlier this season and will try to avenge a loss to the Lady Ospreys in last year's PBC tournament. The winner of the match will advance to Saturday's finals.

Against USCS, the Lakers fell behind in doubles action and trailed 2-1 entering singles play but came back to win four straight matches to secure the victory.

In singles, top-seeded and 10th-ranked sophomore Jackeline Nieto (Caracas, Venezuela) won 6-0 and 7-5 over Marcela Gonzalez while second-seeded and 21st Nathalia Collantes (Bucaramanga, Colombia) won 6-1 and 6-2 over Martina Stoklaskova. Third-seeded Aline Quintal (Coatzacoalcos, Mexico) won 6-3 and 6-2 over Paloma Castillo. Fourth-seeded Natalia Koulechova (Moscow, Russia) won 6-1 and 6-2 over Kristina Ribicic.

Fifth-seeded Amina Wojcik (Virgil, Ontario) and sixth-seeded Fernanda Zurita (Guayaquil, Ecuador) did finish their singles matches since the Lakers had already clinched the team victory. Wojcik was winning 7-5 and 3-0, while Zurita split sets before the matches were stopped.

In doubles, Nieto and Collantes, the 10th ranked doubles team in Division II, won 8-2 over Gonzalez and Paula Fillion. The No. 2 team of Koulechova and Wojcik fell 8-6 to Nina Lesnanska and Stoklaskova, while, the third-seeded team of Quintal and Zurita fell 8-3 to Ribicic and Castillo.

4/18/02
CCSU 5, USCS 2
Jacksonville, FL

Singles
1. Nieto (CCSU) d. Gonzales (USCS) 6-0 and 7-5
2. Collantes (CCSU) d. Stoklaskova 6-1 and 6-2
3. Quintal (CCSU) d. Castillo (USCS) 6-3 and 6-2
4. Koulechova (CCSU) d. Ribicic (USCS) 6-0 and 6-2
5. Wojcik (CCSU) and Fillion (USCS) DNF
6. Zurita (CCSU) and Lesnanska (USCS) DNF

Doubles
1. Nieto/Collantes (CCSU) d. Gonzales/Fillion (USCS) 8-2
2. Lesnanska/Stoklaskova (USCS) d. Quintal/Koulechova (CCSU) 8-6
3. Ribicic/Castillo (USCS) d. Wojcik/Zurita (CCSU) 8-3

Clayton State's Nieto and Collantes named 
Peach Belt All-Conference

Morrow, GA---April 17, 2002-- Clayton College & State University's nationally ranked tennis players Jackeline Nieto and Nathalia Collantes added some hardware to their trophy cases Wednesday as both were named to the 2002 Peach Belt All-Conference team.

Nieto and Collantes were recognized with the honors at the Peach Belt Conference awards banquet at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville, site of the 2002 PBC Championships. In addition to being named all-conference in singles, the duo also made all-conference as a doubles team.

Clayton State (12-6), the 10th ranked team in Division II, will return to the courts on Thursday in the PBC tournament at UNF. As the conference runner-up and No. 2 seed, the Lakers will receive a bye in the first round before facing the winner of the first round match between USC Spartanburg and UNC Pembroke at 4 p.m.

Nieto, a sophomore from Caracas, Venezuela and the 11th-ranked player in the nation, finished the regular season with a 10-6 record at Clayton State's No. 1 singles spot. She had several impressive victories in the 2002 campaign, including a 6-2 and 6-3 win over Lynn University's Monika Mastalirova, the No. 2 ranked player in the nation, and member of the defending Division II national championship team. Nieto also defeated Rollins College's No. 1 seeded player Vanessa Caddick, who is ranked 13th in the country 6-2 and 6-3.

Collantes, a sophomore from Bucaramanga, Colombia and the 21st-ranked player in the country, finished the regular season with a 12-6 mark. As the team's No. 2 seed, her top victory came against Armstrong Atlantic State University's Michaela Kratochvilova, the No. 14th ranked player in the nation, and also a fellow member of the All-PBC team. Collantes defeated Kratochvilova 6-4 and 6-2. In addition, Collantes defeated the 27th-ranked player in Georgia College & State University's Annika Persson, who was also named to the All-PBC team.

Others named to the singles all-conference squad besides Nieto and Collantes were: Zsofi Golopencza, Armstrong Atlantic State; Julia Roudkovskaya, Georgia College & State University; Annamaria Forgacs, Armstrong Atlantic State; Kratochvilova, Armstrong Atlantic State; Persson, Georgia College & State University; and Suzanne Visagie, Columbus State.

Nieto and Collantes, the 10th-ranked team, were named to one of the three All-PBC doubles teams after and 8-2 record. Its top performance came against Rollins' 14th ranked team of Caddick and Frances Giron 8-2.

AASU swept Player of the Year, Freshman of the Year and Coach of the Year honors as Golopencza was named Player of the Year, Forgacs Freshman of the Year and Simon Earnshaw Coach of the Year.

2002 Peach Belt Conference
Women’s Tennis All-Conference Team

Singles
Zsofi Golopencza, Armstrong Atlantic State
Julia Roudkovskaya, Georgia College & State University
Annamaria Forgacs, Armstrong Atlantic State
Michaela Kratochvilova, Armstrong Atlantic State
Jackeline Nieto, Clayton State
Nathalia Collantes, Clayton State
Annika Persson, Georgia College & State University
Suzanne Visagie, Columbus State

Doubles
Zsofi Golopencza and Michaela Kratochvilova, Armstrong Atlantic State
Jackeline Nieto and Nathalia Collantes, Clayton State
Annamaria Forgacs and Laura Peaty, Armstrong Atlantic State

Freshman of the Year: Annamaria Forgacs, Armstrong Atlantic State
Player of the Year: Zsofi Golopencza, Armstrong Atlantic State
Coach of the Year: Simon Earnshaw, Armstrong Atlantic State

Clayton State slams rival KSU 8-1; finishes second in PBC regular season standings

Morrow, GA---April 11, 2002--The 10th-ranked Clayton College & State University women's tennis team sewed up sole possession of second place in the Peach Belt Conference women's tennis standings Thursday, slamming north metro-Atlanta rival Kennesaw State University 8-1.

With the win, the Lakers close their PBC regular season at 9-1 and will enter next week's tournament as the league's No. 2 seed behind second-ranked Armstrong Atlantic State University. Clayton State will return to the courts on Sunday for its last regular season match, hosting non-conference opponent Northwood University in an 8 a.m. match.

In Thursday's singles matches, top-seeded Jackeline Nieto (Caracas, Venezuela), the 11th-ranked player in Division II, defeated Eva Andrews after she retired due to an injury, trailing 6-1 and 1-0. Third-seeded Aline Quintal (Coatzacoalcos, Mexico) defeated Kamilla Rodriguez 6-3 and 6-0, while fourth-seeded Natalia Koulechvoa (Moscow, Russia) blanked Maria Rubert 6-0 and 6-0. Fifth-seeded Amina Wojcik (Virgil, Ontario) defeated Carolyn Ward 7-5 and 6-3, while sixth-seeded Fernanda Zurita (Guayaquil, Ecuador) won 6-2 and 6-0 over Megan George.

Kennesaw State second seed Loraine Rosmuller edged Clayton State's Nathalia Collantes (Bucaramanga, Colombia) 7-5 and 7-6.

In doubles, the top-seeded team of Nieto and Collantes, the 10th-ranked doubles team in Division II, won 8-3 over Andrews and George, while the second-seeded team of to Koulechova and Quintal defeated Rosmuller and Rodriguez 8-6. The third-seeded doubles team of Wojcik and Zurita defeated Ward and Rubert 8-5.

4/11/02
CCSU 8, KSU 1
Morrow, GA

Singles
1. Nieto (CCSU) d. Andrews (KSU) 6-1 and 1-0 (retired)
2. Rosmuller (KSU) d. Collantes (CCSU) 7-5 and 7-6
3. Quintal (CCSU) d. Rodriguez (KSU) 6-3 and 6-0
4. Koulechova (CCSU) d. Rubert (UNCP) 6-0 and 6-0
5. Wojcik (CCSU) d. Ward (KSU) 7-5 and 6-3
6. Zurita (CCSU) d. George (KSU) 6-2, 6-0

Doubles
1. Nieto/Collantes (CCSU) d. Andrews/George (KSU) 8-3
2. Quintal/Koulechova (CCSU) d. Rosmuller/Rodriguez (KSU) 8-6
3. Wojcik/Zurita (CCSU) d. Ward/Rubert (KSU) 8-5

Clayton State sweeps UNC Pembroke 
9-0 in women's tennis

Morrow, GA---April 7, 2002--The 10th-ranked Clayton College & State University women's tennis team swept Peach Belt Conference opponent and 35th-ranked University of North Carolina Pembroke 9-0 in women's tennis Sunday at the Clayton State tennis complex.

With the win, the Lakers improved to 8-1 in the conference and are one win shy of securing second place in the Peach Belt behind No. 1 ranked Armstrong Atlantic State University. Clayton State (11-6) will get its chance to claim PBC runner-up honors Tuesday, hosting 26th-ranked Kennesaw State University in a 2 p.m. match.

In Sunday's singles matches, top-seeded Jackeline Nieto (Caracas, Venezuela), the 11th ranked player in Division II, defeated Christine Orban (Fayetteville, NC) 6-1 and 7-6. Second-seeded Nathalia Collantes (Bucaramanga, Colombia), Division II's 21st ranked player, won 6-2 and 7-6 over Andrea Vukcevic. Third-seeded Aline Quintal (Coatzacoalcos, Mexico) defeated Naomi Ellis (Victoria, Australia) 6-3 and 7-5, while fourth-seeded Natalia Koulechvoa (Moscow, Russia) won 6-1 and 6-1 over Fawn O'Leary. Fifth-seeded Amina Wojcik (Virgil, Ontario) defeated Abi French 6-2 and 6-3, while sixth-seeded Fernanda Zurita (Guayaquil, Ecuador) blanked Shannon Gentry 6-0 and 6-0.

In doubles, the top-seeded team of Nieto and Collantes, the 10th-ranked doubles team in Division II, won 8-3 over Orban and Vukcevic, while the second-seeded team of to Koulechova and Quintal defeated Ellis and French 8-4. The third-seeded doubles team of Wojcik and Zurita defeated O'Leary and Gentry 8-2.

4/7/02
CCSU 9, UNCP 0
Morrow, GA

Singles
1. Nieto (CCSU) d. Orban (UNCP) 6-1 and 7-6
2. Collantes (CCSU) d. Vukcevic (UNCP) 6-2 and 7-6
3. Quintal (CCSU) d. Ellis (UNCP) 6-3 and 7-5
4. Koulechova (CCSU) d. O'Leary (UNCP) 6-1 and 6-1
5. Wojcik (CCSU) d. French (UNCP) 6-2 and 6-3
6. Zurita (CCSU) d. Gentry (UNCP) 6-0, 6-0

Doubles
1. Nieto/Collantes (CCSU) d. Orban/Vukcevic (UNCP) 8-3
2. Quintal/Koulechova (CCSU) d. Ellis/French (UNCP) 8-4
3. Wojcik/Zurita (CCSU) d. O'Leary/Gentry (UNCP) 8-2

Clayton State falls to NAIA's second-ranked team Brenau University 8-1

Morrow, GA---April 6, 2002--The 10th-ranked Clayton College & State University women's tennis team dropped its sixth match of the season Saturday to one of the heavyweights of NAIA tennis, falling to second-ranked Brenau University 8-1.

Brenau, who has defeated both the top-ranked team in NCAA Division II, Armstrong Atlantic State University and the top-ranked team in NAIA, Auburn-Montgomery, swept all three doubles matches and won five of the six singles matches en route to the victory.

Clayton State (10-6 overall; 7-1 in PBC) will return to the courts on Sunday, hosting Peach Belt Conference opponent the University of North Carolina Pembroke in an 11 a.m. match.

In Saturday's matches, fifth-seeded singles player Amina Wojcik (Virgil, Ontario) was the lone winner for the Lakers, defeating Olivia Moragon. After falling in the first set 6-3, Amina came back to win the second set 6-4 and a seven-point tiebreaker for the third set 7-3.

In other matches, top-seeded Jackeline Nieto (Caracas, Venezuela) fell to Tonya Grib 7-5 and 6-4, while second-seeded Nathalia Collantes (Bucaramanga, Colombia) fell to Katarina Mahaere. Collantes won the first set 7-5 before falling in the second set 6-4 and in a seven-point tiebreaker for the third set 7-4.

Third-seeded Aline Quintal (Coatzacoalcos, Mexico) fell to Bilijana Dimovska 6-2 and 6-0, while fourth-seeded Natalia Koulechova (Moscow, Russia) fell to Irena Yarikova 6-2 and 6-2. Sixth seeded Fernanda Zurita (Guayaquil, Ecuador) fell to Shan Liew 6-2 and 6-1.

In doubles, the top-seeded team of Nieto and Collantes fell 8-3 to Grib and Mahaere, while the second-seeded team of Koulechova and Quintal fell to Dimovska and Liew 8-1. The third-seeded doubles team of Wojcik and Zurita fell to Yarikova and Katarina Franjic 8-0.

4/6/02
BU 8, CCSU 1
Morrow, GA

Singles
1. Grib (BU) d. Nieto (CCSU) 7-5 and 6-4
2. Mahaere (BU) d. Collantes (CCSU) 7-5, 4-6 and *4-7
3. Dimovska (BU) d. Quintal (CCSU) 6-2 and 6-0
4. Yarikova (BU) d. Koulechova (CCSU) 6-2 and 6-2
5. Wojcik (CCSU) d. Moragon 3-6, 6-4 and *7-3
6. Liew (BU) d. Zurita (CCSU) 6-2, 6-1
*third set decided by 7-point tiebreaker

Doubles
1. Grib/Mahaere (BU) d. Nieto/Collantes (CCSU) 8-3
2. Dimovska/Liew (BU) d. Quintal/Koulechova (CCSU) 8-1
3. Yarikova/Franjic (BU) d. Wojcik/Zurita (CCSU) 8-0

Tenth-ranked Clayton State knocks off 9th ranked North Florida 5-4 in women's tennis

Jacksonville, FL---March 24, 2002-- The 10th-ranked Clayton College & State University women's tennis team notched its most impressive win of the season Sunday, knocking off ninth-ranked University of North Florida 5-4 at the UNF Tennis Complex.

After dropping two of the first three doubles matches, the Lakers came back to win four of the five singles matches en route to the victory. Entering the match, the Lady Ospreys were not only ranked one spot ahead of Clayton State in the national rankings but were also one spot ahead of Clayton State in the Mid Atlantic Regional rankings in the second spot behind Armstrong Atlantic State University.

Clayton State (10-5, 7-1) and North Florida are now tied for second in the Peach Belt standings with one loss behind No. 1 ranked Armstrong State. Clayton State will return to the court on Saturday, March 30th, hosting 21st ranked Kennesaw State University in an 11 a.m. match, while North Florida travels to face the nation's top team and the PBC leader in AASU on Wednesday.

In singles, top-seeded Jackeline Nieto (Caracas, Venezuela) won 6-4 and 6-3 over Claudia Schiffczyk, while second-seeded Nathalia Collantes (Bucaramanga, Colombia) defeated Allison Rowe 6-0 and 6-0. Third-seeded Aline Quintal (Coatzacoalcos, Mexico) defeated Nichole Morris 6-2, 4-6, 6-1, while fifth-seeded Natalia Koulechova (Moscow, Russia) won over Allison Davidson 6-3 and 6-3.

Fifth-seeded Amina Wojcik (Virgil, Ontario) fell to Liliana Hung 6-4 and 7-6, while sixth-seeded Fernanda Zurita (Guayaquil, Ecuador) fell 5-7, 6-3 and 6-3 to Julia Stoppelli.

In doubles, the top-seeded team of Nieto and Collantes won 8-4 over Schiffczyk and Davidson. The second-seeded team of Koulechova and Quintal fell 8-4 to Rowe and Morris, and the third-seeded team of Zurita and Wojcik fell to Stoppelli and Hung 8-4.

3/24/02
CCSU 5, UNF 4
Jacksonville, FL

Singles
1. Nieto (CCSU) d. Schiffczyk (UNF) 6-4 and 6-3
2. Collantes (CCSU) d. Rowe (UNF) 6-0 and 6-0
3. Quintal (CCSU) d. Morris (UNF) 6-2, 4-6 and 6-1
4. Koulechova (CCSU) d. Davidson (UNF) 6-3 and 6-3
5. Hung (UNF) d. Wojcik (CCSU) 6-4 and 7-6
6. Stoppelli (UNF) d. Zurita (CCSU) 5-7, 6-3 and 6-3

Doubles
1. Nieto/Collantes (CCSU) d. Schiffczyk/Davidson (UNF) 8-4
2. Rowe/Morris (UNF) d. Quintal/Koulechova (CCSU) 8-4
3. Stoppelli/Hung (UNF) d. Wojcik/Zurita (CCSU) 8-4

Clayton State women's tennis team 
defeats North Greenville College 5-4

Morrow,GA---March 21, 2002-- The 10th ranked Clayton College & State University women's tennis team captured its ninth win of the season Thursday, defeating North Greenville College 5-4 in Morrow.

The Lakers (9-5) will return to the court on Sunday, March 24, traveling to face Peach Belt Conference foe the University of North Florida in one of its biggest matches of the season. The Ospreys are ranked ninth in the country and second in the Mid Atlantic Region just ahead of Clayton State's third place ranking in the region.

In singles, second-seeded Nathalia Collantes (Bucaramanga, Colombia) defeated Sandy Steffl 6-3 and 6-3, while fourth-seeded Natalia Koulechova (Moscow, Russia) won over Maria Macias by default. Koulechova was winning 6-0 and 1-0 before Macias was forced to retire due to an injury. Fifth-seeded Amina Wojcik (Virgil, Ontario) defeated Maria Salazar 6-4 and 6-4, while sixth-seeded Fernanda Zurita (Guayaquil, Ecuador) won 6-0 and 6-0 over Melissa Mushinski.

Top-seeded Jackeline Nieto (Caracas, Venezuela) fell to Olga Hlushchanka 6-2 and 6-3, while third-seeded Aline Quintal (Coatzacoalcos, Mexico) fell 6-2 and 6-3 to Joy Mitchell (College Park, GA).

In doubles, the third-seeded team of Zurita and Wojcik won 8-3 over Mushinski and Salazar. The top-seeded team of Nieto and Collantes fell to Hlushchanka and Steffl 8-4, while the second-seeded team of Quintal and Koulechova fell to Mitchell and Macias 9-7.

3/21/02
CCSU 5, NGC 4
Morrow, GA

Singles
1. Hlushchanka (NGC) d. Nieto (CCSU) 6-2 and 6-3
2. Collantes (CCSU) d. Steffl (NGC) 6-3 and 6-3
3. Mitchell (NGC) d. Quintal (CCSU) 6-2 and 6-3
4. Koulechova (CCSU) d. Macias (NGC) 6-0, 1-0 (retired)
5. Wojcik (CCSU) d. Salazar (NGC) 6-4 and 6-4
6. Zurita (CCSU) d. Mushinski (NGC) 6-0 and 6-0

Doubles
1. Hlushchanka/Steffl (NGC) d. Nieto/Collantes (CCSU) 8-5
2. Mitchell/Macias (NGC) d. Quintal/Koulechova (CCSU) 9-7
3. Wojcik/Zurita (CCSU) d. Mushinski/Salazar (NGC) 8-3

CCSU's Nieto and Collantes ranked among
nation's top women's tennis players

Morrow, GA---March 19, 2002-- The Clayton College & State University women's tennis team has held onto to the No. 10 ranking in the country from the outset of the 2002 season, and the squad recently had two players leap closer to the top in the individual collegiate rankings released Monday by the International Tennis Association

Clayton State's top seed Jackeline Nieto (Caracas, Venezuela) vaulted to 11th in the rankings, while No. 2 seed Nathalia Collantes (Bucaramanga, Colombia) moved up to 21st. As a doubles team, Nieto and Collantes moved up to 10th after opening the season ranked 13th.

Nieto's leap in the individual rankings comes on the heels of her defeating some of the top players in the country earlier this month. She defeated the No. 2 ranked singles player in the nation, Lynn University's Monika Mastalirova 6-2 and 6-3. As a team, Lynn is the defending Division II national champion and at the time of the match was ranked No. 1 in the country. She also defeated Rollins College's No. 1 seeded player Vanessa Caddick, who is ranked 13th in the country 6-2 and 6-3.

Collantes moved up to 21st in the rankings after starting the season ranked 34th. She is 9-3 in singles matches this season with her top victory coming against Armstrong Atlantic State University's Michaela Kratochvilova, the No. 14th ranked player in the nation.

In doubles, the team of Nieto and Collantes is 8-3 on the season with its top performance coming against Rollins' 14th ranked team of Caddick and Frances Giron 8-2.

As a team, Clayton State remained in the 10th spot in the national rankings but there were some rumblings above from another Peach Belt Conference school as rival Armstrong State jumped ahead of Lynn and BYU-Hawaii as the nation's No. 1 ranked team.

The Lakers will meet the only other Peach Belt team ranked above them on Sunday, March 24, traveling to play ninth-ranked North Florida. The match will be one of the team's biggest of the season as the Ospreys (6-3) are ranked second in the Mid Atlantic Region just ahead of Clayton State's third place ranking in the region.

Clayton State will have one match before the North Florida contest, hosting North Greenville College on Thursday in a 2 p.m. match that was recently added to the schedule.

####CCSU####

Tenth-ranked Clayton State defeats Ferris State Fri.; Francis Marion Sat.

Morrow,GA---March 17, 2002-- The 10th ranked Clayton College & State University women's tennis team won two matches in as many days, defeating two nationally ranked teams, 29th ranked Ferris University on Friday, followed by 33rd Francis Marion University on Saturday.

The Lakers (8-5) were scheduled to host PBC opponent UNC Pembroke on Sunday but the match was postponed until Sunday, April 7 at 11 a.m. The squad will return to the court on Sunday, March 24, traveling to face the University of North Florida in one of its biggest matches of the season. The Ospreys are ranked ninth in the country and second in the Mid Atlantic Region just ahead of Clayton State's third place ranking in the region.

In the Francis Marion match, the team swept the Lady Patrtiots 9-0, improving to 6-1 in Peach Belt Conference play.

In singles, top-seeded Jackeline Nieto (Caracas, Venezuela) defeated Ana Carias 6-1 and 6-1, while second-seeded Nathalia Collantes (Bucaramanga, Colombia) won 6-0 and 6-0 over Maria Ava Lallemant. Third-seeded Aline Quintal (Coatzacoalcos, Mexico) won 7-6 (4) and 10-4 over Stephanie Schaller, while fourth-seeded Amina Wojcik (Virgil, Ontario) defeated Lillian Jamieson 6-2 and 6-1. Fifth-seeded Natalia Koulechova (Moscow, Russia) won 6-1 and 6-1 over Stephanie Bush, while sixth-seeded Fernanda Zurita (Guayaquil, Ecuador) defeated Kristen Kern 6-1 and 6-2.

In doubles, the top-seeded team of Nieto and Collantes won 8-0 over Schaller and Lallemant, while the second-seeded team of Koulechova and Quintal won 8-1 over Carias and Kern. The third-seeded team of Zurita and Wojcik defeated Jamieson and Bush 8-1.


3/16/02
CCSU 9, FMU 0
Florence, SC
Singles
1. Nieto (CCSU) d. Carias (FMU) 6-1 and 6-1
2. Collantes (CCSU) d. Lalleman (FMU) 6-0 and 6-0
3. Quintal (CCSU) d. Schaller (FMU) 7-6 (4), 10-4
4. Wojcik (CCSU) d. Jamieson (FMU) 6-2, 6-1
5. Koulechova (CCSU) d. Bush (FMU) 6-1 and 6-1
6. Zurita (CCSU) d. Kern (FMU) 6-2 and 6-2

Doubles
1. Nieto/Collantes (CCSU) d. Schaller/Lallemant (FMU) 8-0
2. Koulechvoa/Quintal (CCSU) d. Carias/Kern (FMU) 8-1
3. Zurita/Wojcik (CCSU) d. Jamieson/Bush (FMU) 8-1

 

AGAINST FERRIS STATE

In the match against Ferris State, Clayton State won six-of-seven singles matches and two-of-three double matches for the 7-2 victory.

Second-seeded Collantes won her match 6-3 and 6-2 over Bara Jilkova, while third-seeded Quintal won her match 3-6, 6-3 and 7-5 over Suzanne Batten. Fourth-seeded Koulechova won her match 6-1 and 6-4 over Huda Grina, while fifth-seeded Wojcik won her match 6-3 and 6-1 over Elena Blackman. Sixth-seeded Zurita won 6-3 and 6-1 over Amanda Miller.

In doubles, second-seeded Koulechova and Quintal won 8-3 over Batten and Grin, while third-seeded Zurita and Wojcik won 8-4 over Miller and Blackman.

3/15/02
CCSU 7, FSU 2
Morrow, GA
Singles
1. Garvey (FSU) d. Nieto 6-1 and 6-4
2. Collantes (CCSU) d. Jilkova (FSU) 6-3 and 6-2
3. Quintal (CCSU) d. Batten (FSU) 3-6, 6-3 and 7-5
4. Koulechova (CCSU) d. Grin (FSU) 6-1 and 6-4
5. Wojcik (CCSU) d. Blackman (FSU) 6-3, 6-1
6. Zurita (CCSU) d. Miller (FSU) 6-3 and 6-1

Doubles
1. Garvey/Jilkova (FSU) d. Nieto/Collantes (CCSU) 8-5
2. Quintal/Koulechova (CCSU) d. Batten/Grin (FSU) 8-3
3. Wojcik/Zurita (CCSU) d. Miller/Blackman (FSU) 8-4

Seventh-ranked Rollins edges 
10th-ranked Clayton State 5-4

Winter Park, FL--March 5, 2002--It was a rematch between two teams that met in the 2001 NCAA South Regional Final, and just like last season, the duel wasn't decided until the final match of the day.

But the sad news for 10th-ranked Clayton State tennis fans, it ended in similar fashion as last season, with the Lakers falling 5-4 to the Tars. Seventh-ranked Rollins won two of the three doubles matches and split the six singles contests, en route to the victory. Last year, the Lakers led 4-1 over Rollins before the Tars came storming back to win 5-4 and advance to the 16-team NCAA Championships.

For Clayton State on Tuesday, the top-seeded doubles team of Jackeline Nieto (Caracas, Venezuela) and Nathalia Collantes (Bucaramanga, Colombia) won its match 6-2 and 6-3. In singles, top-seeded Nieto won her singles match 6-2 and 6-3, while third-seeded Aline Quintal (Coatzcoalcos, Mexico) won her match 6-4 and 7-5. Fourth-seeded Natalia Koulechova (Moscow, Russia) won her match 6-4 and 6-0.

The women's squad will take the rest of the week off before returning to the court on Friday, March 15, hosting Ferris State in a noon match at the Clayton State Tennis Complex.

Singles:
(1) J. Nieto (CCSU) def. V. Caddick (RC) 6-2, 6-3
(2) C. Prieto (RC) def. N. Collantes (CCSU) 6-2, 7-5
(3) A. Quintal (CCSU) def. L. Soffes (RC) 6-4, 7-5
(4) N. Koulechova (CCSU) def. F. Giron (RC) 6-4, 6-0
(5) J. Niebauer (RC) def. A. Wojcik (CCSU) 6-3, 7-5
(6) A. Root (RC) def. F. Zurita (CCSU) 6-0, 6-2

Doubles:
(1) Nieto/Collantes (CCSU) def. Caddick/Giron (RC) 8-2
(2) Prieto/Niebauer (RC) def. Quintal/Koulechova (CCSU) 9-8 (4)
(3) Oppenheim/Soffes (RC) def. Zurita/Wojcik (CCSU) 8-3

Clayton State women's tennis team falls 
to No. 1 ranked Lynn University 5-1

Boca Ratron, FL--March 3, 2002-- The 10th ranked Clayton College & State University women's tennis team dropped its fourth match of the season Sunday, falling to the nation's top-ranked team and defending Division II national champion Lynn University 5-1.

Top seed Jackeline Nieto won the lone match for the Lakers, defeating Monika Mastalirova in straight sets 6-2 and 6-3. Clayton State (6-4 overall; 5-1 in Peach Belt) will return to the courts on Tuesday, facing seventh-ranked Rollins College.

DOUBLES
1) Monika Mastalirova/Marie Barbier (LU) def. Nathalia Collantes/Aline Quintal (CCSU) 8-4
2) Bucke Yavuz/Maria Alves (LU) def. Jackeline Nieto/Natalia Koulechova (CCSU) 8-2
3) Masha Bajramovic/Maria Palacios (LU) def. Fernanda Zurita/Amina Wojcik (CCSU) 8-2
SINGLES
1) Jackeline Nieto (CCSU) def. Monika Mastalirova (LU) 6-2, 6-3
2) Marie Barbier (LU) vs. Nathalia Collantes (CCSU) stopped
3) Masha Bajramovic (LU) vs. Aline Quintal (CCSU) stopped
4) Bucke Yavuz (LU) def. Natalia Koulechova (CCSU) 7-5, 6-1
5) Maria Palacios (LU) def. Amina Wojcik (CCSU) stopped
6) Maria Alves (LU) def. Fernanda Zurita (CCSU) 6-1, 6-1

Clayton State netters fall to Barry 5-0

Winter Park, FL--March 2, 2002-- The 10th ranked Clayton College & State University women's tennis team dropped its third match of the season Saturday, falling to fifth-ranked Barry University 5-0.

The Buccaneers took all three doubles matches and two of six singles, before the match was halted in the Barry's favor 5-0.

The Lakers will return to the court on Sunday, facing off against the nation's top-ranked team and the defending national champion Lynn University. After Sunday's match, the team will take a day off before facing seventh-ranked Rollins on Tuesday.

Doubles
1. Courmes/Lopez (BU) def. Quintal/Collantes (CCSU), 8-4
2. Turbok/Miladinovic (BU) def. Nieto/Koulechova (CCSU), 8-6
3. Papandrea/Kleczek (BU) def. Wojcik/Zurita (CCSU), 8-5
Singles
1. Victoria Courmes (BU) vs. Jackeline Nieto (CCSU) 6-4, 3-1 (halted)
2. Gizella Turbok (BU) def. Nathalia Collantes (CCSU) 6-2, 6-2
3. Maria Lopez (BU) vs. Aline Quintal (CCSU), 6-4, 2-1 (halted)
4. Bojana Miladinovic (BU) def. Natalia Koulechova (CCSU), 6-1, 6-2
5. Amina Wojcik (CCSU) vs. Ewa Kleczek (BU) 6-4, 2-3 (halted)
6. Valeria Papandrea (BU) vs. Fernanda Zurita (CCSU), 7-5, 2-1 (halted)

Tenth-ranked Clayton State falls to 5th-ranked Armstrong State 7-2

Savannah, GA---February 26, 2001-- The 10th ranked Clayton College & State University women's tennis team had a heavyweight battle against one of the nation's top five teams and arguably its biggest conference rival Tuesday, but in the end, came up a few blows shy, falling to fifth-ranked Armstrong Atlantic State University 7-2 in Savannah.

Armstrong State got off to a good start, sweeping all three doubles matches before the Lakers came back to win two singles matches. The Armstrong State win avenges a 5-4 Clayton State victory last year that ended up being the deciding match for the Peach Belt Conference Championship.

The loss for Clayton State drops the squad to 6-2 overall and 5-1 in the conference. The Lakers will return to the court this week, traveling to play a trio of Florida teams. CCSU will play Barry University on Saturday, followed by Lynn University on Sunday and Rollins University Tuesday. All three teams are ranked among the nation's top 10, including Lynn that is last year's national champion and currently the top-ranked team in the country.

In singles, second-seeded Nathalia Collantes (Bucaramanga, Colombia) had the top performance of the day, defeating the nation's 10th-ranked player in Michaela Kratochvilova 6-4 and 6-2. Fourth seeded Natalia Koulechova (Moscow, Russia) also had a victory, defeating Gemma Vaughan 6-2, 6-1.

Top-seeded Jackeline Nieto (Caracas, Venezuela) played well before falling 6-2 and 6-3 to the No. 1-ranked player in the country Zsofia Golopencza, who was undefeated in singles play last season. Third-seeded Aline Quintal (Coatzacoalcos, Mexico) fell to Anamaria Forgacs 6-2 and 6-4, while fifth-seeded Amina Wojcik (Virgil, Ontario) fell to Laura Puch 6-1 and 6-2.

Sixth-seeded Fernanda Zurita (Guayaquil, Ecuador) lost in a "super tiebreaker" 10-3 in the third set after splitting the first two sets. She won the first set 6-4 before falling in the second set 7-6.

In doubles, top-seeded Nieto and Collantes fell 8-0 to Golopencza and Kratochvilova, the No. 4 ranked team in the nation, while second-seeded Quintal and Koulechova fell 8-5 to Forgacs and Laura Peaty 8-5. Third-seeded Zurita and Wojcik fell to Auguilar and Puch 8-1.

AASU 7, CCSU 2
2/25/02
Savannah, GA

Singles
1. Golopencza (AASU) d. Nieto (CCSU) 6-2, 6-3
2. Collantes (CCSU) d. Kratochvilova (AASU) 6-4, 6-2
3. Forgacs (AASU) d. Quintal (CCSU) 6-2, 6-4
4. Koulechova (CCSU) d. Vaughan (AASU) 6-2, 6-1
5. Puch (AASU) d. Wojcik (CCSU) 6-1, 6-2
6. Aguilar (AASU) d. Zurita (CCSU) 4-6, 7-6, 10-3

Doubles
1. Golopencza/Kratochvilova (AASU) d. Nieto/Collantes (CCSU)
8-0
2. Forgacs/Peaty (AASU) d. Quintal/Koulechova (CCSU) 8-5
3. Aguilar/Puch (AASU) d. Wojcik/Zurita (CCSU) 8-1

Clayton State netters slam VSU 8-1

Morrow, GA---February 25, 2001-- The 10th ranked Clayton College & State University women's tennis team defeated Valdosta State 8-1 Monday in a non-conference women's tennis match.

The squad swept all three doubles matches and five of the six singles, improving its overall record to 6-1 on the season. Clayton State will return to the courts on Tuesday in its biggest match of the season, traveling to face PBC foe Armstrong Atlantic State University in a 2 p.m. match.

Last year, the Lakers defeated AASU 5-4, en route to CCSU's first-ever Peach Belt Conference Championship. Before the Lakers' win over Armstrong State last year, the Lady Pirates had won over 50 straight PBC matches.

In singles Monday, top-seeded Jackeline Nieto (Caracas, Venezuela) won 6-1, 6-2 over Iris Staub , while second-seeded Nathalia Collantes (Bucaramanga, Colombia) beat Claudie Hesse 6-0 and 6-2. Fourth-seeded Natalia Koulechova (Moscow, Russia) recorded a 6-1 and 6-1 victory over Reagan Hall. Fifth-seeded Amina Wojcik (Virgil, Ontario) defeated Holly Blount 6-0 and 6-0, and sixth-seeded Fernanda Zurita (Guayaquil, Ecuador) won 6-2 and 6-2 over Emily Miller.

Third-seeded Aline Quintal (Coatzacoalcos, Mexico) fell 6-1, 3-6 and 6-4 to Petre Gromes.

In doubles, top-seeded Nieto and Collantes won 8-3 over Staub and Hesse, while second-seeded Quintal and Koulechova won 8-3 over Blount and Hall. Third-seeded Zurita and Wojcik defeated Gromes and Miller 8-4.

CCSU 8, VSU 1
2/25/02
Morrow, GA

Singles
1. Nieto (CCSU) d. Staub (VSU) 6-1, 6-2
2. Collantes (CCSU) d. Hesse (VSU) 6-0, 6-2
3. Gromes (VSU) d. Quintal (CCSU) 6-1, 3-6; 6-4
4. Koulechova (CCSU) d. Hall (VSU) 6-2, 6-0
5. Wojcik (CCSU) d. Blount (VSU) 6-0, 6-0
6. Zurita (CCSU) d. Miller (VSU) 6-2, 6-2

Doubles
1. Nieto/Collantes (CCSU) d. Staub/Hesse (VSU) 8-3
2. Quintal/Koulechova (CCSU) d. Blount/Hall (VSU) 8-3
3. Wojcik/Zurita (CCSU) d. Gromes/Miller (VSU) d. 8-1

###CCSU###

Clayton State blanks Augusta State

Morrow, GA---February 23, 2001-- The 10th ranked Clayton College & State University women's tennis team pushed its Peach Belt Conference record to a perfect 5-0 on the season, blanking Augusta State University 9-0 Saturday.

The win for the Lakers (5-1) gives the team a 15-match PBC regular season winning streak, dating back to last season. The Lakers will return to the court on Monday, hosting Valdosta State in a 2 p.m. match.

In singles, top-seeded Jackeline Nieto (Caracas, Venezuela) won 6-3 and 7-5 over Patricia Zurita, while second-seeded Nathalia Collantes (Bucaramanga, Colombia) beat Hayley Bakker 6-2 and 6-0. Third-seeded Aline Quintal (Coatzacoalcos, Mexico) won 6-1 and 6-3 over Melissa Bruzzese, while fourth-seeded Natalia Koulechova (Moscow, Russia) recorded a 6-2 and 6-0 victory over Valerie Butler.

Fifth-seeded Amina Wojcik (Virgil, Ontario) defeated Susan Gary 6-1 and 6-1, and sixth-seeded Fernanda Zurita (Guayaquil, Ecuador) won 6-1 and 6-1 over Jodie Rowlands.

In doubles, top-seeded Nieto and Collantes won 8-6 over Zurita and Bakker, while second-seeded Quintal and Koulechova won 8-0 over Bruzzese. Third-seeded Zurita and Wojcik defeated Butler and Rowlands 8-1.

CCSU 9, ASU 0
2/23/02
Augusta, GA

Singles
1. Nieto (CCSU) d. Zurita (ASU) 6-3, 7-5
2. Collantes (CCSU) d. Bakker (ASU) 6-2, 6-0
3. Quintal (CCSU) d. Bruzzese (ASU) 6-1, 6-3
4. Koulechova (CCSU) d. Butler (ASU) 6-2, 6-0
5. Wojcik (CCSU) d. Gary (ASU) 6-1, 6-1
6. Zurita (CCSU) d. Rowlands (ASU) 6-1, 6-1

Doubles
1. Nieto/Collantes (CCSU) d. Zurita/Bakker (ASU) 8-6
2. Quintal/Koulechova (CCSU) d. Bruzzese/Gary (ASU) 8-0
3. Wojcik/Zurita (CCSU) d. Butler/Rowlands (ASU) d. 8-1

 

###CCSU###

Clayton State defeats Columbus State 5-4
in Peach Belt women's tennis action

Morrow, GA---February 21, 2001-- The 10th ranked Clayton College & State University women's tennis team pushed its Peach Belt Conference record to a perfect 4-0 on the season, defeating Columbus State University 5-4 Thursday.

The Lakers (4-1) won 2-of-3 doubles matches and 3-of-5 singles matches en route to the victory, Clayton State's 14th PBC regular season win in a row, dating back to last year. The Lakers will return to the court on Saturday, traveling to face league foe Augusta State in a 2 p.m. match.

In singles, top-seeded Jackeline Nieto (Caracas, Venezuela) won 6-3, 3-6 and 6-4 over Suzanne Visagie (CSU), while second-seeded Nathalia Collantes (Bucaramanga, Colombia) blanked Marianne Berry 6-0 and 6-0. Fourth-seeded Natalia Koulechova (Moscow, Russia) recorded a 6-0 and 6-1 victory over Shannon Johnson.

Third-seeded Aline Quintal (Coatzacoalcos, Mexico) fell to Natasha Stoop 3-6, 6-4 and 7-5, while fifth-seeded Amina Wojcik (Virgil, Ontario) fell to Stacie Faurot 6-4 and 7-5. Sixth-seeded Fernanda Zurita (Guayaquil, Ecuador) dropped her match to Jessica Spencer 6-3 and 6-0.

In doubles, top-seeded Nieto and Collantes won 8-3 over Visagie and Berry, while second-seeded Quintal and Koulechova won 8-1 over Spencer and Johnson. Third-seeded Zurita and Wojcik fell to Stoop and Faurot 8-5.

CCSU 5, CSU 4
2/21/02
Morrow, GA

Singles
1. Nieto (CCSU) d. Visagie (CSU) 6-3, 3-6, 6-4
2. Collantes (CCSU) d. Berry (CSU) 6-0, 6-0
3. Stoop (CSU) d. Quintal (CCSU) 3-6, 6-4, 7-5
4. Koulechova (CCSU) d. Johnson (CSU) 6-0, 6-1
5. Faurot (CSU) d. Wojcik (CCSU) 6-4, 7-5
6. Spencer (CSU) d. Zurita (CCSU) 6-3, 6-0

Doubles
1. Nieto/Collantes (CCSU) d. Visagie/Berry (CSU) 8-3
2. Quintal/Koulechova (CCSU) d. Stoop/Johnson (CSU) 8-1
3. Faurot/Spencer (CSU) d. Wojcik/Zurita (CCSU) d. 8-5

Clayton State slams GC&SU 7-2
in women's tennis action

Morrow, GA---February 16, 2002--- The Clayton College & State University women's tennis bounced back in a big way Saturday, defeating Peach Belt Conference Georgia College & State University 7-2 at the Clayton State tennis complex.

The PBC win, which improves the Lakers to 3-1 on the season, comes on the heels of the Lakers falling Friday to the No. 1 ranked team in NAIA Auburn Montgomery.

In singles, the squad won five-of-six matches, led by second-seeded sophomore Nathalia Collantes (Bucaramanga, Colombia) winning her match in three sets. After dropping the first set 7-6, she fought back to win the next two sets 6-0 and 6-4 over freshman Annika Persson (Frolunda, Sweden).

Third-seeded sophomore Aline Quintal (Coatzacoalcos, Mexico) won her match 6-4 and 6-2 over freshman Karin Ramstrom (Kil, Sweden), while fourth-seeded sophomore Natalia Koulechova (Moscow, Russia) won her match 6-1 and 6-2 over freshman Jodie Lobsiger (Orbe, Switzerland). Fifth-seeded freshman Amina Wojcik (Virgil, Canada) defeated sophomore Kremena Vassileva (Plovdiv, Bulgeria) 7-5 and 6-1, while sixth-seeded junior Fernanda Zurita (Guayaquil, Ecuador) won her match 6-1 and 6-0 over freshman Elizabeth Williams (Missoula, Montana).

Top-seeded Jackeline Nieto (Caracas, Venezuela) fell in her singles match to the nation's fifth-ranked player senior Julia Roudkovskaya (Buffalo, IL) 6-2 and 6-3.

In doubles action, the Lakers won two of three matches. The No. 2 doubles team of Koulechova and Wojcik won its respective match over Persson and Ramstrom 8-6, while the No. 3 team of Quintal and Zurita won its match over Vassileva and Williams 8-2.

CCSU's top-ranked team of Nieto and Collantes ranked 13th in the nation fell to the 14th ranked team of Roudkovskaya and Persson 8-3.

The Lakers will return to the courts on Thursday, February 21, hosting PBC opponent Columbus State in a 2 p.m. match.

CCSU 7, GC&SU 2
2/16/02
Singles
1. Roudkouskaya (GC&SU) d. Nieto (CCSU) 6-2, 6-3
2. Collantes (CCSU) d. Persson (GC&SU) 6-7, 6-0, 6-4
3. Quintal (CCSU) d. Ramstrom (GC&SU) 6-4, 6-2
4. Koulechova (CCSU) d. Lobsiger (GC&SU) 6-1, 6-2
5. Wojcik (CCSU) d. Vassileva (GC&SU) 7-5, 6-1
6. Zurita (CCSU) d. Williams (GC&SU) 6-1, 6-0
Doubles
1. Roudkouskaya/Persson (GC&SU) d. Nieto/Collantes 8-3 (CCSU)
2. Koulechova/Wojcik (CCSU) d. Ramstrom/Lobsiger (GC&SU) 8-6
3. Quintal/Zurita (CCSU) d. Vassileva/Williams (GC&SU) 8-2

 

Clayton State falls to NAIA's
top-ranked Auburn-Mont. 9-0

Morrow, GA---February 15---The Clayton College & State University women's tennis team, ranked 10th in NCAA Division II, dropped its first dual match of the season Friday, falling to the nation's top-ranked NAIA team in the land Auburn University at Montgomery 9-0.

In singles, top-seeded Jackeline Nieto (Caracas, Venezuela) fell to Diana Ghergi 6-2 and 6-1, while second-seeded Nathalia Collantes (Bucaramanga, Colombia) was defeated 6-3, 7-6 (7-4) by Anca Iamandi. Third-seeded Aline Quintal (Coatzacoalcos, Mexico) fell to Carolina Gago 6-1 and 6-2, while fourth-seeded Natalia Koulechova (Moscow, Russia) was defeated 6-2 and 6-4 by Electra Henry. Fifth-seeded Amina Wojcik (Virgil, Ontario) fell to Julia Ikonikova 6-3 and 6-1, and sixth-seeded Fernanda Zurita (Guayaquil, Ecuador) dropped her match to Carla Bruno 6-2 and 6-3.

In doubles action, the top-seeded team of Nieto and Collantes lost 8-2 to Gago and Iamandi, while the second-seeded team of Koulechova and Wojcik fell 8-1 to Ghergi and Henry. The third-seeded team of Quintal and Zurita dropped its match 8-3 to Bruno and N. Boyko.

The Lakers (2-1) will try to rebound, returning to the court on Saturday, hosting Peach Belt Conference rival Georgia College & State University in a 2 p.m. match.

 

###CCSU###

CCSU women's tennis team downs 
USCA 7-0; to host Auburn-Mont. on Fri.

Aiken, S.C.---February 10---The 10th-ranked Clayton College & State University women's tennis team downed its second Peach Belt Conference opponent in as many days, defeating the University of South Carolina Aiken 7-0 on Sunday.

The Lakers opened their season on Saturday, blanking the University of South Carolina Spartanburg 9-0. Clayton State (2-0) will return to the courts on Friday, hosting Auburn University at Montgomery in a 2 p.m. match, followed by hosting PBC rival Georgia College & State University in 2 p.m. match on Saturday.

In Sunday's matches, Clayton State won all three doubles matches and all five singles matches that were completed before rain interrupted two of the singles matches. Since the Lakers had already secured the team victory, the matches were not finished.

In the singles matches that were completed, second-seeded sophomore Nathalia Collantes won 6-1 and 6-3, while fourth-seeded sophomore Natalia Koulechova won her match 6-0 and 6-0. Fifth-seeded freshman Amina Wojcik won 6-2 and 6-0, while sixth-seeded junior Fernanda Zurita won 6-0 and 6-1.

Top-seeded sophomore Jackeline Nieto and third-seeded sophomore Aline Quintal did not finish their matches due to the rain.

Nieto and Collantes, the 13th ranked doubles team in Division II, won 8-0, while the No. 2 team of Koulechova and Wojcik defeated their opponents 8-1. The third-seeded team of Quintal and Zurita won 8-2.

###CCSU###

CCSU women's tennis team blanks 
USCS 9-0 in season opener

Spartanburg, S.C.---February 9---The 10th-ranked Clayton College & State University women's tennis team opened its 2002 season on a positive note, blanking Peach Belt Conference opponent the University of South Carolina Spartanburg 9-0 Saturday.

In singles, top-seeded sophomore Jackeline Nieto won 6-1 and 6-4, while second-seeded Nathalia Collantes won 6-1 and 6-4. Third-seeded Aline Quintal won 6-4 and 7-5, and fourth-seeded Natalia Koulechova won 6-1 and 6-1. Fifth-seeded Amina Wojcik won 3-6, 6-3 and 6-4, while sixth-seeded Fernanda Zurita won 6-4 and 6-2.

Nieto and Collantes, the 13th ranked doubles team in Division II, won 8-0, while the No. 2 team of Koulechova and Wojcik won 8-3. The third-seeded team of Quintal and Zurita won 8-6.

Clayton State will return to the court on Sunday, traveling to face Peach Belt Conference opponent USC Aiken. The Lakers will open their home schedule on Friday, hosting Auburn University at Montgomery.

Defending PBC women's tennis champ CCSU to open 2002 season on Sat. 

Morrow, GA---February 7, 2001---The defending Peach Belt Conference champion Clayton State women's tennis team will open its 2002 season on Saturday, traveling to face PBC opponent USC Spartanburg in a 2 p.m. match.

After capturing last year's PBC title, the first in school history, the Lakers open this year ranked 10th in the preseason Intercollegiate Tennis Association Division II poll. The top-10 ranking comes on the heels of the Lakers' most successful season ever in women's tennis as the squad finished last season with a 17-3 dual match record, which included a 10-0 mark in the PBC. Clayton State closed last season ranked 10th in the country after falling in the NCAA South Regional finals to fifth-ranked Rollins 5-4.

The Lakers return four players from last year's team, including two players ranked among the best in the country. The sophomore doubles team of Jackeline Nieto (Caracas, Venezeula) and Natalia Collantes (Bucaramanga, Colombia) is ranked 13th in the country after finishing last year with a new single season record at 20-2. Collantes, who had a 19-4 singles record last season, is also ranked among the top singles players at 34th in the country.

Besides Collantes and Nieto, two other returnees to the squad are sophomore Natalia Koulechova (Moscow, Russia) and Fernanda Zurita (Guayaquil, Ecuador). Koulechova, who was named to the 2001 All-PBC team, finished last season with a 23-6 record, while Zurita finished last season with 23-4 record in singles play, a new single season record. The duo of Koulechova and Zurita teamed up to post an 18-6 record in doubles play.

Two newcomers to this year's squad will be sophomore Aline Quintal (Coatzacoalcos, Ver Mexico) and Amina Wojcik (Virgil, Ontario). Quintal transferred from Freed-Hardeman College, while Wojcik enters as a true freshman.

After Saturday's match against USC Spartanburg, the team will return to the courts on Sunday playing at USC Aiken in an 11 a.m. match. The team's first home match will be Friday, February 15, hosting Auburn-Montgomery in a 2 p.m. match.

CCSU is one of seven Peach Belt Conference teams to be nationally ranked in the preseason ITA poll. Armstrong Atlantic State University leads the pack, ranked fourth, followed by the University of North Florida, ninth; Clayton State, 10th; Georgia College and State University, 13th; Kennesaw State University, 20th, Francis Marion University, 29th; and the University of North Carolina Pembroke, 30th.

###CCSU###

CCSU women's tennis team ranked
10th in national ITA poll

Nieto/Collantes ranked 13th in doubles
Morrow, GA, December 13--- After winning the 2001 Peach Belt Conference regular season championship, big things are expected from the Clayton College & State University women's tennis team in 2002, evidenced by the squad being ranked 10th in the preseason Intercollegiate Tennis Association Division II rankings.

The 10th place ranking in the country comes on the heels of the Lakers' most successful season ever in women's tennis as the squad finished last season with a 17-3 dual match record, which included a 10-0 mark in the conference.

CCSU is one of seven Peach Belt Conference teams to be nationally ranked. Armstrong Atlantic State University leads the pack, ranked fourth, followed by the University of North Florida, ninth; Clayton State, 10th; Georgia College and State University, 13th; Kennesaw State University, 20th, Francis Marion University, 29th; and the University of North Carolina Pembroke, 30th.

Along with the team being ranked, a couple of players from the CCSU squad were also ranked among the top players in the land.

The sophomore doubles team of Jackeline Nieto (Caracas, Venezeula) and Natalia Collantes (Bucaramanga, Colombia) is ranked 13th in the country after finishing last year with a new single season record at 20-2. Collantes, who had a 19-4 singles record last season, was also ranked among the top singles players at 34th in the country.

Besides Collantes and Nieto, two other returnees to the squad are sophomore Natalia Koulechova  (Moscow, Russia) and Maria Zurita (Guayaquil, Ecuador). Koulechova, who was named to the 2001 All-PBC team, finished last season with a 23-6 record, while Zurita finished last season with 23-4 record in singles play, a new single season record. The duo of Koulechova and Zurita teamed up to post an 18-6 record in doubles play.

Two newcomers to this year's squad will be sophomore Aline Quintal (Coatzacoalcos, Ver Mexico) and Amina Wojcik (Virgil, Ontario). Quintal transferred from Freed-Hardeman College, while Wojcik enters as a true freshman.

The Lakers open their spring season on February 9, traveling to face Peach Belt Conference opponent the University of South Carolina Spartanburg in a 2 p.m. match.

###CCSU###

 

Intercollegiate Tennis Association Rankings
NCAA Division II Women's Tennis - Fall 2001
(scroll down for regional rankings)

Team
1. Lynn University
2. BYU-Hawaii
3. University of West Florida
4. Armstrong Atlantic State University
5. Rollins College
6. Grand Canyon University
7. Abilene Christian University
8. University of California-Davis
9. University of North Florida
10. Clayton College and State University
11.Eastern New Mexico University
12.University of California-San Diego
13.Georgia College and State University
14.Ouchita Baptist University
15.Florida Southern University
16.Hawaii Pacific University
17.Northwood University
18.Delta State University
19.Harding University
20.Kennesaw State University
21.University of Hawaii-Hilo
22.Lees McRae College
23.Northern Michigan University
24.West Liberty State College
25.Northeastern Oklahoma University
26.Sonoma State University
27.Ferris State University
28.Presbyterian College
29.Francis Marion University
30.Universityof North Carolina-

Doubles
1. Domina/Magnetti - Ouchita Baptist University.
2. Gaspar/So'onalole - BYU-Hawaii
3. Barbier/Mastalirova - Lynn University.
4. Golopencza/Kratochvilova - Armstrong Atlantic State University.
5. Bharwai/Jaeger - Grand Canyon University.
6. Jilkova/Garvey - Ferris State University.
7. Courmes/Lopez - Barry University.
8. Chumley/Johnson - Abilene Christian University.
9. Skafar/Emre - Lees McRae College.
10. Sweitzer/Opilo - Millersville University.
11. Salomom/Mok - U.C. Davis.
12. Holt/Murray - Tusculum College.
13. Collantes/Nieto - Clayton College and State University.
14. Persson/Roudkovskaya - Georgia College and State University.
15. Widner/Taweel - Abilene Christian University.
16. Klokinis/Liwanpo - Grand Canyon University.
17. Kraweitz/Zwilling - University of West Florida.
18. Jeliazkova/Koopman - Northern Michigan University.
19. Matsunaga/Miranti - Hawaii Pacific University.
20. Corral/Hall - Florida Southern University.
21. Nix/Turner - Eastern New Mexico University.
22. Howard/Webb - U.C. Davis.
23. Caddick/Prieto - Rollins College.
24. Reilly/Anderson - Slippery Rock University.
25. Kaempter/Neubauer - Northwood University.
26. Jovez/Murphy - Sonoma State University.

Singles
1. Zsofia Golopencza - Armstrong Atlantic State University - So.
2. Monika Mastalirova - Lynn University - So.
3. Petra Gaspar - BYU-Hawaii - Sr.
4. Victoria Courmes - Barry University - Jr.
5. Julia Roudkovskaya - Georgia College and State University - Sr.
6. Tagifano So'onalole - BYU-Hawaii - Sr.
7. Layla Turner - Eastern New Mexico University.
8. Victoria Domina - Ouchita Baptist University - Fr.
9. Ana Skafar - Lees McRae College - So.
10.Michaela Kratochvilova - Armstrong Atlantic State University - Sr.
11.Tomoko Sukegawa - BYU-Hawaii - Sr.
12.Alex Costa Corral - Florida Southern University - So.
13.Joy Mitchell - North Greenville College - Jr.
14. Johnson - Abilene Christian University.
15. Vanessa Caddick - Rollins College - So.
16. Jin Sun - BYU-Hawaii - So.
17. Annamaria Forgacs - Armstrong Atlantic State University - Fr.
18. Gizella Turbok - Barry University - Jr.
19. Hope Zwilling - University of West Florida - Sr.
20. Christian Klokinis - Grand Canyon University - So.
21. Denis Emre - Lees McRae College - Jr.
22. Carla Prieto - Rollins College - So.
23. Marie Barbier - Lynn University - So.
24. Alisse Ali-Christie - U.C. Davis - So.
25. Lesley Murray - Tusculum College - So.
26. Nikita Bhardwaj - Grand Canyon University - Fr.
27. Jill Howard - U.C. Davis - Sr.
28. Evelina Akkers - Northeastern Oklahoma University.
29. Kaemper - Northwood University.
30. Garvey - Ferris State University.
31. Maria Lopez - Barry University - So.
32. Ashley O'Neil - U.C. San Diego - So.
33. Leanne McGee - West Liberty State University - So.
34. Natalia Collantes - Clayton College and State University - So.
35. Jeliazkova - Northern Michigan University.
36. Fleurette Miranti - Hawaii Pacific University - Jr.
37. Annika Persson - Georgia College and State University - Fr.
38. Sara Taweel - Abilene Christian University - Sr.
39. Erin Bartsch - Bloomsburg University - Jr.
40. Christine Lin Wan Po - Grand Canyon University - Sr.

CCSU women's tennis team ranked
10th in national ITA poll

Nieto/Collantes ranked 13th in doubles
Morrow, GA, December 13--- After winning the 2001 Peach Belt Conference regular season championship, big things are expected from the Clayton College & State University women's tennis team in 2002, evidenced by the squad being ranked 10th in the preseason Intercollegiate Tennis Association Division II rankings.

The 10th place ranking in the country comes on the heels of the Lakers' most successful season ever in women's tennis as the squad finished last season with a 17-3 dual match record, which included a 10-0 mark in the conference.

CCSU is one of seven Peach Belt Conference teams to be nationally ranked. Armstrong Atlantic State University leads the pack, ranked fourth, followed by the University of North Florida, ninth; Clayton State, 10th; Georgia College and State University, 13th; Kennesaw State University, 20th, Francis Marion University, 29th; and the University of North Carolina Pembroke, 30th.

Along with the team being ranked, a couple of players from the CCSU squad were also ranked among the top players in the land.

The sophomore doubles team of Jackeline Nieto (Caracas, Venezeula) and Natalia Collantes (Bucaramanga, Colombia) is ranked 13th in the country after finishing last year with a new single season record at 20-2. Collantes, who had a 19-4 singles record last season, was also ranked among the top singles players at 34th in the country.

Besides Collantes and Nieto, two other returnees to the squad are sophomore Natalia Koulechvoa (Moscow, Russia) and Maria Zurita (Guayaquil, Ecuador). Koulechova, who was named to the 2001 All-PBC team, finished last season with a 23-6 record, while Zurita finished last season with 23-4 record in singles play, a new single season record. The duo of Koulechova and Zurita teamed up to post an 18-6 record in doubles play.

Two newcomers to this year's squad will be sophomore Aline Quintal (Coatzacoalcos, Ver Mexico) and Amina Wojcik (Virgil, Ontario). Quintal transferred from Freed-Hardeman College, while Wojcik enters as a true freshman.

The Lakers open their spring season on February 9, traveling to face Peach Belt Conference opponent the University of South Carolina Spartanburg in a 2 p.m. match.

###CCSU###

CCSU women's tennis team fares well
at GC&SU Women's Fall Championships

Milledgeville, Ga., October 14, 2001---The Clayton College & State University women's tennis team fared well in the Georgia College & State University Women's Fall Championships Sunday, bringing home two championships and six second place finishes in the tournament.

In singles, CCSU's Natalia Collantes placed second in the "A" Consolation Championship falling in the finals Sunday to Abraham Baldwin Agriculture College's Luiza Biktyakova 6-4 and 6-2.

Clayton State's Aline Quintal placed second in the "B" Championship to GC&SU's Karin Ramstrom, falling 6-7, 6-3 and 6-4. Natalia Koulechova placed second in the "B" Consolation Championships, defaulting in the finals due to an injury.

In the "C" Singles Championship match, Clayton State's Amina Wojcik defeated teammate Fernanda Zurita 6-2 and 6-4.

In doubles play, the Clayton State team of Jackeline Nieto and Collantes fell 8-6 to ABAC's Biktyakova and Natalia Drabova in the "A" Doubles Championship. The "B" Doubles Championship match was an "All-Clayton State" affair as Koulechova and Wojcik defeated Quintal and Zurita 8-2.

EARLIER TOURNEY ACTION

Collantes advanced to the "A" Consolation Championships, defeating Kennesaw State's Eva Andrews 6-3 and 6-2 in the consolation semifinals. She fell in the opening round of the tourney to the eventual second place finisher Natalia Drabova 6-2, 2-6 and 6-2. Nieto won her first round singles match over KSU's Loraine Rosmuller 6-3 and 6-3 before falling to eventual champion GC&SU's Annika Persson 6-4 and 6-1.

In the "B" division, Quintal advanced to the "B" finals, defeating Armstrong Atlantic State's Alejandra Aguilar 6-3 and 6-3, while Koulechova fell in the first round 6-2 and 6-2 to GC&SU's Karin Ramstrom before receiving a bye in the consolation semifinals.

Zurita defeated ABAC's Jodi Benson 6-3 and 6-1 and GC&SU's Kremena Vassileva 6-4 and 6-3 to advance to "C" finals, while Wojcik defeated ABAC's Kate Magill 6-0 and 6-0 and GC&SU's Jodie Lobsiger 6-1 and 6-3 to advance to the finals.

In doubles, Nieto and Collantes defeated GC&SU's Persson and Ramstrom 8-4 to advance to the "A" finals. Quintal and Zurita defeated GC&SU's Lobsiger and Vassileva 8-5, followed by defeating KSU's Carolyn Ward and Mary Brooke Spearman 8-6 to advance to the "B" finals. Koulechova and Wojcik defeated Middle Georgia College's Alyson Boatwright and Jodi Burress 8-0, followed by KSU's Megan George and Monica Guerrero 8-3 to advance to the "B" finals.

The tournament marked the end of the fall season for women's tennis squad, and Clayton State will return to the courts on February 9, traveling to face Peach Belt Conference opponent the University of South Carolina Spartanburg.

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Nieto/Collantes fall in finals of ITA
S.E. Women's Tennis Regional

Complete Brackets
Savannah, Ga., October 2, 2001College & State University ---The Clayton team of Jackeline Nieto and Nathalia Collantes fell in the finals of the ITA Southeast Women's Tennis Regional Monday.

The duo lost 8-0 to the tourney's top seed Zsofia Golopencza and Michaela Kratochvilova of Armstrong State. The AASU team, which finished last season as the nation's No. 3 ranked team, will advance to the national tournament to be held in Dallas, TX, on October 19-21.

In singles, Collantes, the fourth seed in a 42-player field, fell to the tourney's top seed Golopencza 6-0 and 6-0 in the semifinals. With the win, Armstrong's Golopencza kept a streak alive of not losing a game in the tournament. She will face AASU teammate and No. 5-8 seed Annamaria Forgacs in the finals on Tuesday (today).

Clayton State sophomore Aline Quintal, a transfer from Freed-Hardeman University, won Monday in the consolation finals, defeating AASU's Danijela Mijic 6-1 and 6-1.

EARLIER TOURNEY ACTION

Collantes advanced to the semifinals of the tourney with a 6-2 and 7-6 (7-3) win over Georgia College & State University's Annika Persson. After a bye in the opening round, she defeated the University of North Carolina Pembroke's Shannon Gentry 6-0 and 6-0, followed by beating UNCP's Christine Orban 6-4 and 6-0 in the third round.

Nieto, the third singles seed, advanced to the quarterfinals before falling to AASU's Annamaria Forgacs 6-4 and 6-1. After a first round bye, she defeated Kennesaw State's Carolyn Ward 6-2 and 6-0 in the second round and AASU's Laura Puch 6-3 and 6-0 in the third round.

Natalia Koulechova and Fernanda Zurita each advanced to the third round of the tourney after each received first round byes. Koulechova won over GCSU's Jodie Lobsiger 7-5 and 6-1 before falling to Francis Marion's Ana Carias in three sets, 6-4, 1-6, 6-4. Zurita won 6-0 and 6-0 over KSU's Dina Malimon before falling to AASU's Golopencza.

Quintal fell in the second round to Columbus State's Natasha Stoop 6-3, 3-6 and 6-4 after opening the tourney with a bye. She went on to win five matches and take the consolation draw championship.

Freshman Amina Wojcik, lost in the first round before coming back to split matches in the consolation draw. She defeated UNCP's Andrea Vukcevic before falling to eventual consolation finalist Mijic of AASU.

In doubles, the team of Collantes and Nieto advanced to the doubles finals, defeating AASU's Alejandra Aguilar and Forgacs 8-4. After a first round bye, the duo won three matches leading up to the finals.

The team of Quintal and Zurita and the team of Koulechova and Wojcik each received first round byes before advancing to the third round with wins. Quintal and Zurita defeated KSU's Monica Guerrero and Kamilla Rodriguez 8-4 before falling to AASU's Golopencza and Kratochvilova 8-1. Koulechova and Wojcik defeated KSU's Eva Andrews and Loraine Rosmuller 8-5 before falling to AASU's Aguilar and Forgacs 8-2.

After Monday's play, the women's team will return to the courts for the Georgia College & State University Fall Championships on October 12-14.

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