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2002-03 Laker Season

 

Clayton State’s Nieto & Collantes named 
ITA Division II Tennis All-Americas

  Morrow, GA --- June 6, 2003 --- Clayton College & State University’s Jackeline Nieto became the school’s first two-time All-America earlier this week as she and fellow teammate Nathalia Collantes both received the honor by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association. 

Nieto, ranked 14th in the country in singles, has an opportunity to become a three-time All-America next season, while Collantes received the honor for the first time, as she and Nieto finished the season ranked fifth in the nation in doubles. Players are named All-America by finishing the season as either one of the top 20 singles players in the nation or a top 10 doubles team. 

“I am extremely happy for both Jacky and Nathalia,” said third-year head coach Elizabeth Nieto. “They both have been an integral part in the building our program and a big reason for our success the last three seasons.” 

Juniors Nieto and Collantes, the No. 1 and No. 2 singles players on Clayton State’s team the last two years, were also named to the Peach Belt All-Conference team in singles and as a doubles tandem. They have helped lead the Lakers to a Peach Belt Conference championship and a runner-up finish in two of the last three years. 

Nieto’s top victories this season came against GC&SU’s Luiza Biktyakova, defeating the nation's 15th-ranked player twice. She beat her 4-6; 6-3; 6-2 during the regular season and then 6-4 and 6-2 in the PBC Tournament.  

A native of Caracas, Venzeula, Nieto received the 2002 ITA National Player to Watch Award, leading the Lakers to a 10th place national ranking and their first-ever berth in the Division II NCAA Championships in 2002. 

In doubles, Nieto and Collantes sported a 16-2 overall record and won 13 straight matches to close the season. The duo’s top victories came against GC&SU's Luiza Biktyakova and Paavilainen, who were once ranked second in the country in doubles. The Clayton State duo defeated the highly touted GC&SU duo 8-5 during the regular season and 9-7 in the PBC Tournament.  

They also had victories over Valdosta State's Eva Petschnig and Annika Biro, the 11th-ranked team, 8-2; and Rollins' Vanessa Caddick and Prieto, the eighth-ranked team, 8-4. Nieto and Collantes have a 56-17 overall record, Clayton State’s all-time best in doubles play.  

Collantes, from Bucaramanga, Colombia, has a career 58-14 record in singles play, the school’s best all-time singles mark. She finished the regular season with a perfect 16-0 record in singles play, knocking off several of the country’s top-ranked players. 

Ranked 27th in singles, she had victories over Georgia College & State University’s Mia Paavilainen 7-5; 7-6; Division II’s 29th-ranked player; and Rollins College’s Carla Prieto, the 42nd-ranked player, 4-6; 6-3; 10-8. She also defeated Emory University's Margaret Moscarto, Division III's 34th-ranked player and a member of Emory’s 2003 National Championship team; 7-5 and 6-2. 

With Collantes and Nieto being named All-America, it is the 11th time a Clayton State athlete has received All-America honors. Women’s basketball player Catreia Shaw (Pearson, GA) was also an All-America selection this year.  

Other CCSU athletes named to All-America teams are: Stacy Washington, men’s soccer, 1992; Adrian Drury, men’s soccer, 1996; Robert Conley, men’s basketball, 1998-99; Adam Short, men’s golf, 1998-99; Dave Kelly, men’s golf, 1998-99; Josh Grenier, men’s soccer, 2000; and Joni Guffey, track & field, 2002.  

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Clayton State’s Collantes named NCAA Division II’s Mid-Atlantic Region ITA Player to Watch 



Morrow, GA --- May 12, 2003 --- Clayton College & State University’s Nathalia Collantes finished the 2003 women’s tennis season with a perfect 16-0 singles record, and awards recognizing her superb play continue to pour in for the school’s all-time singles winner. 

Collantes, a junior from Bucaramanga, Colombia, has been named the NCAA Division II Mid-Atlantic Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) “Player to Watch” for 2003. The ITA “Player to Watch” award goes to a player who has an outstanding season and is expected to perform at a high level the rest of his or her career. This award’s criteria also includes a player’s sportsmanship and character. 

The nation’s 24th ranked player, Collantes enjoyed the best single season in Clayton history in 2003. She knocked off several of the country’s top-ranked players, including a win over Georgia College & State University’s Mia Paavilainen 7-5; 7-6; Division II’s 15th-ranked player. Paavilainen, an All-America candidate, led the Lady Bobcats to the NCAA Division II National Championship semifinals last weekend.  

Another one of Collantes’ top victories this season came against Emory University's Margaret Moscarto, Division III's 35th-ranked player; 7-5 and 6-2. The Eagles, ranked No. 1 in the country, are the favorite to win the NCAA Division III National Championship later this week.  

Collantes has a career 58-14 record in singles play, the school’s best all-time singles mark. Last month, she was named to the Peach Belt All-Conference team and earlier this season was named PBC Player of the Week on two different occasions.  

In addition to receiving the ITA Mid-Atlantic Region award in singles, Collantes and doubles teammate Jackeline Nieto have a good shot at being named Division II All-America in doubles.  

Ranked fourth in the country, the duo finished the regular season with a 16-2 overall record and won 13 straight matches to close the season. Their top victories came against GC&SU's Luiza Biktyakova and Paavilainen, who were once ranked second in the country in doubles. The Clayton State duo defeated the highly touted GC&SU duo 8-5 during the regular season and 9-7 in the PBC Tournament.  

Nieto and Collantes, who hold Clayton State’s all-time best record in doubles play at 56-17, also had victories over Valdosta State's Eva Petschnig and Annika Biro, the 20th-ranked team, 8-2; and Rollins' Vanessa Caddick and Prieto, the fifth-ranked team, 8-4.  

The 2003 Division II All-America singles and doubles teams will be announced in the coming weeks. Nieto, a junior from Caracas, Venezuela, ranked 13th in singles, has a good chance of receiving the All-America honors for the second straight season in singles. 

A player must be ranked in the top-20 in the final ITA rankings to be a NCAA Division II All-America in singles, while to be named in doubles, a team must be ranked in the top 10 in the final doubles poll.

 

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Clayton State’s Nieto & Collantes named to 2003 Peach Belt All-Conference team 

Morrow, GA --- April 23, 2003 --- For the second straight season, the Clayton College & State University women’s tennis duo of Jackeline Nieto and Nathalia Collantes have been named to the Peach Belt All-Conference team. 

Nieto and Collantes, the No. 1 and No. 2 singles players on Clayton State’s 17th ranked team, both were named to the All-Conference team in singles and also received the honor as a doubles tandem. 

Collantes, the nation’s 24th ranked player, finished the regular season with a perfect 16-0 record in singles play, knocking off several of the country’s top-ranked players. She had victories over Georgia College & State University’s Mia Paavilainen 7-5; 7-6; Division II’s 15th-ranked player; and Rollins College’s Carla Prieto, the 39th-ranked player, 4-6; 6-3; 10-8. She also defeated Emory University's Margaret Moscarto, Division III's 35th-ranked player; 7-5 and 6-2. 

A junior from Bucaramanga, Colombia, Collantes is in her third season at Clayton State and has a career 58-14 record in singles play, the school’s best all-time singles mark. She was named Peach Belt Conference Player of the Week on two different occasions this season. 

Nieto, a 2002 Division II All-American, was named to the All-Conference squad for the second straight season and is in her third season of competing as Clayton State’s No. 1 singles seed. 

Her top victories this season came against GC&SU’s Luiza Biktyakova, defeating the nation's ninth-ranked player twice this season. She beat her 4-6; 6-3; 6-2 during the regular season and then 6-4 and 6-2 in the PBC Tournament. She also downed Columbus State's Suzanne Visage, the nation's 38th ranked player 6-1; 6-1 during the regular season.  

Nieto, a junior from Caracas, Venzeula,  received the 2002 ITA National Player to Watch Award, leading the Lakers to a 10th place national ranking and their first-ever berth in the Division II NCAA Championships in 2002. 

In doubles, Nieto and Collantes are ranked fourth in the country and sport a 16-2 overall record and have won 13 straight matches. The duo’s top victories came against GC&SU's Luiza Biktyakova and Paavilainen, who were once ranked second in the country in doubles. The Clayton State duo defeated the highly touted GC&SU duo 8-5 during the regular season and 9-7 in the PBC Tournament. They also had victories over Valdosta State's Eva Petschnig and Annika Biro, the 20th-ranked team, 8-2; and Rollins' Vanessa Caddick and Prieto, the fifth-ranked team, 8-4.  

Nieto and Collantes currently have a 56-17 overall record, Clayton State’s all-time best in doubles play.  

Clayton State recently finished fourth in the Peach Belt Conference Tournament and is awaiting word on whether it will receive a bid to the eight-team NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regionals May 2-4.  

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Laker women’s tennis team falls 5-3 to North Florida; places fourth in PBC Tournament

Jacksonville, FL --- April 19, 2003 ---The 17th-ranked Clayton College & State University women’s tennis team fell 5-3 to 10th-ranked University of North Florida Saturday in the consolation finals of the Peach Belt Conference Championships hosted by UNF in Jacksonville, FL.  

With the loss, Clayton State finishes fourth in the PBC Tournament and drops to 8-10 on the season. The Lakers will now await word on whether they will receive a bid to the eight-team NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regionals May 2-4.  

In action on Saturday, the Lakers’ top-seeded doubles team of Jackeline Nieto and Nathalia Collantes continued its winning ways, downing Camila Sagae and Lialiana Luin Hung 8-4. Nieto and Collantes, the fourth-ranked doubles team in the nation, improved to 16-2 on the season with the victory.  

Clayton State’s No. 2 doubles team of Natalia Koulechova and Aline Quintal lost 8-6 to Allison Davidson and Erika Hirth, while the third-seeded team of Carla Bastos and Adriana Collantes fell 8-0 to Melody Le Goff and Elizabeth Rodgers.  

In singles, top-seeded Nieto (Caracas, Venezuela) won by default over Sagae. Nieto won the first set 6-1 before Sagae withdrew from the match. Second-seeded Collantes (Bucaramanga, Colombia), the 24th-ranked player in the country, remained undefeated on the season (16-0), defeating Davidson 6-3 and 6-2.  

Fourth-seeded Aline Quintal (Coatzacoalcos, Mexico) lost 6-3 and 6-0 to Erika Hirth, while fifth-seeded Carla Bastos (Brasilia, Brazil) lost 6-1 and 6-0 to Melody Le Goff. Sixth-seeded Adriana Collantes (Bucaramanga, Colombia) fell 6-0 and 6-0 to Elizabeth Rodgers.  

Third-seeded Natalia Koulechova (Moscow, Russia) was up a set when her match was stopped as the Ospreys secured the team victory.  

#10 North Florida 5,  #17 Clayton State 3
Singles
No. 1 – Jackeline Nieto (CCSU) def. Camila Sagae (UNF) by default
No. 2 – Nathalia Collantes (CCSU) def. Allison Davidson (UNF) 6-3; 6-2
No. 3 – Natalia Koulechova (CCSU) vs. Liliana Hung (UNF)  DNF
No. 4 – Erika Hirth (UNF) def. Aline Quintal (CCSU) 6-3; 6-0
No. 5 – Melody LeGoff (UNF) def. Carla Bastos (CCSU) 6-1; 6-0
No. 6 – Elizabeth Rodgers (UNF) def. Adriana Collantes (CCSU) 6-0; 6-0

Doubles
No. 1 – Nieto/Collantes (CCSU) def. Sagae /Hung (UNF) 8-4
No. 2 – Davidson/Hirth (UNF) def. Koulechova/Quintal (CCSU) 8-6
No. 3 –LeGoff/Rodgers (UNF) def. Bastos/Collantes (CCSU) 8-0 

Laker women’s tennis team falls 5-2 to
 GC&SU in PBC semifinals; to face North Florida Sat. 

Jacksonville, FL --- April 18, 2003 ---The 17th-ranked Clayton College & State University women’s tennis team fell 5-2 Friday to regular season Peach Belt Conference champion and 7th-ranked Georgia College & State University in the semifinals of the PBC tournament hosted by the University of North Florida in Jacksonville, FL.  

With the loss, the Lakers will play North Florida Saturday in the consolation finals of the tournament with the winner taking third place in the Championships. The match against UNF, who fell on Friday to Armstrong Atlantic State University 5-1, will begin at 11:30 a.m. CCSU, the fifth seed in the tournament, fell 5-4 earlier this season to the Ospreys, the third seed.  

In doubles action Friday, Clayton State’s top-seeded team of Jackeline Nieto and Nathalia Collantes, the fourth-ranked doubles team in the country, defeated GC&SU’s Luiza Biktyakova and Mia Paavilainen, the nation’s ninth-ranked team, 9-7. The win was Nieto and Collantes’ third victory this season over the nationally-ranked GC&SU duo and improved their record to 15-2 on the season.  

The Lakers’ second-seeded doubles team of Aline Quintal and Natalia Koulechova fell  8-0 to Caroline Lefevre and Anna Schupak, while the third-seeded team of Carla Bastos and Adriana Collantes lost 8-1 to Annika Persson and Kremena Vassileva.  

Top-seeded Jackeline Nieto defeated ninth-ranked Biktyakova 6-4 and 6-2 for the lone win in singles. Third-seeded Koulechova fell 6-0 and 6-4 to 15th-ranked Paavilainen, while fourth-seeded Quintal lost 6-1 and 6-3 to Schupak. Fifth-seeded Carla Bastos (Brasilia, Brazil) lost 6-1 and 6-0 to Persson.   

Second-seeded N. Collantes (Bucaramanga, Colombia), and sixth-seeded A. Collantes (Bucaramanga, Colombia) did not finish their singles matches as the Bobcats had already secured the team victory.  

Georgia College & State University 5, #17 Clayton State 2

Singles
1. Jackeline Nieto (CCSU) def. Luiza Biktyakova (GC&SU) 6-4, 6-2
2. Nathalia Collantes (CCSU) vs. Caroline Lefevre (GC&SU) DNF                                            
3. Mia Paavilainen (GC&SU) def. Natalia Koulechova (CCSU)  6-0, 6-4
4. Anna Schupak (GCSU) def. Aline Quintal (CCSU) 6-1, 6-3
5. Annika Persson (GC&SU) def. Carla Bastos (CCSU)  6-1, 6-0                                     
6. A. Collantes (CCSU) vs. Kremena Vassileva (GC&SU) DNF

Doubles
1. N. Collantes/Nieto (CCSU) def. Biktyakova/Paavilainen (GC&SU) 9-7
2. Lefevre/Schupak (GC&SU) def. Koulechova/Quintal (CCSU) 8-0
3. Persson/Vassileva (GC&SU) def. Bastos/A. Collantes (CCSU) 8-1

 

Laker women’s tennis team slams KSU 5-2 in Peach Belt Tournament; to face GC&SU in semifinals Fri. 

Jacksonville, FL --- April 17, 2003 ---The 17th-ranked Clayton College & State University women’s tennis team opened the Peach Belt Conference Tournament Thursday on a positive note, slamming metro-Atlanta rival and 16th-ranked Kennesaw State University 5-2 in the second round of the tournament hosted by the University of North Florida in Jacksonville, FL.  

With the win, the Lakers will advance to the PBC semifinals and face seventh-ranked Georgia College & State University, the Peach Belt regular season champion. The match at the UNF Tennis Complex will begin at 11 a.m. on Friday. Clayton State came one point from defeating GC&SU in the regular season before falling 5-4, the closest any PBC squad came to defeating the Bobcats in 2003. 

CCSU, the fifth seed in the tournament, avenged a 5-4 loss earlier this season by defeating fourth-seeded KSU on Thursday. The Lakers, who improved to 8-8 with the victory, got off to a good start in the match, winning two of the three doubles matches before capturing three quick singles points.  

In doubles, Clayton State’s top-seeded team of Jackeline Nieto and Nathalia Collantes, the fourth-ranked doubles team in the country, defeated KSU’s Laura Puch and Carolyn Ward 8-2. Clayton State’s second-seeded doubles team of Aline Quintal and Natalia Koulechova won 8-4 over KSU’s Loraine Rosmuller and Kamilla Rodriguez, while CCSU’s third-seeded team of Carla Bastos and Adriana Collantes lost 8-0 to Maria Rubert and Jessica Fischetti.  

In singles, second-seeded N. Collantes (Bucaramanga, Colombia), the 24th-ranked player in the country, remained undefeated on the season (15-0), downing Rosmuller 6-2 and 6-1. Third-seeded Koulechova (Moscow, Russia) blanked Fischetti 6-0 and 6-0, while fourth-seeded Quintal (Coatzacoalcos, Mexico) captured the game-winning point, prevailing 6-4 and 7-6 over Rubert.  

Top-seeded Nieto (Caracas, Venezuela), and sixth-seeded A. Collantes (Bucaramanga, Colombia) did not finish their singles matches as the Lakers had already secured the team victory. Fifth-seeded Carla Bastos (Brasilia, Brazil) lost 6-3 and 6-2 to Rodriguez.   

# 17 Clayton State 5,  #16 Kennesaw State 2
Singles
1. Jackeline Nieto (CCSU) vs. Laura Puch (KSU) DNF
2. Nathalia Collantes (CCSU) defeated Loraine Rosmuller (KSU) 6-2; 6-1
3. Natalia Koulechova (CCSU) defeated Jessica Fischetti (KSU) 6-0; 6-0
4. Aline Quintal (CCSU) defeated Mari Rubert (KSU) 6-4; 7-6
5. Kamilla Rodriguez (KSU) defeated Carla Bastos (CCSU) 6-3; 6-2
6. Adriana Collantes (CCSU) vs. Megan George (KSU) DNF

Doubles
1. Nieto/N. Collantes (CCSU) defeated Puch/Carolyn Ward (KSU) 8-3
2. Quintal/Koulechova (CCSU) defeated Rosmuller/Rodriguez (KSU) 8-4
3. Rubert/Fischetti (KSU) defeated Bastos/A. Collantes (CCSU) 8-0

Clayton State women’s tennis team defeats PBC foe UNC Pembroke Sat., falls to Northwood Sun. 

Morrow, GA --- April 13, 2003 --- The Clayton College & State University women’s tennis team had mixed results this weekend on the courts, defeating Peach Belt Conference opponent the University of North Carolina Pembroke 8-1 Saturday before falling 5-2 to Northwood (Michigan) University on Sunday.  

The split this weekend closes Clayton State’s regular season record at 7-8 on the year. The victory over UNCP improves the Lakers to 7-4 in the Peach Belt and closes out the PBC regular season. Clayton State will return to action on Thursday, April 17th for the Peach Belt Tournament, which will be hosted by the University of North Florida in Jacksonville, FL. The tournament will continue through Saturday. 

Clayton State, ranked 12th in the nation, got off to a fast start in Sunday’s match against Northwood, the 28th ranked team, winning the two top doubles seeds but was unable to carry over its good play into singles, dropping four straight matches. 

Northwood’s fourth-seed Kristina Bogdanovic secured the game-winning point, defeating Clayton State’s Natalia Koulechova 6-3 and 6-2. The team match was halted with two singles matches left undecided.  

In other singles matches, top seed and 13th ranked singles player Jackeline Nieto lost by default to Carina Kaempfer after suffering vision problems, while fifth-seeded Carla Bastos fell 6-2 and 6-3 to Jenny Johansson. Sixth-seeded Adriana Collantes lost 6-1 and 6-0 to Sara Smith. 

Second-seeded Nathalia Collantes, the 37th ranked player, and fourth-seeded Aline Quintal did not complete their singles matches. Both Collantes and Quintal were up a set when their respective matches were stopped. 

In doubles, the Lakers’ top-seeded team of Nieto and N. Collantes, the nation’s 13th ranked team, improved their record to 13-2 on the season, defeating Kaempfer and Johansson 8-3. 

Second-seeded Koulechova and Quintal prevailed in the match of the day, coming back to defeat Northwood’s Deridzard and Smith 9-7. Clayton State’s third-seeded team of Bastos and A. Collantes fell 8-0 to Bogdanovic and Fatima Arshad. 

On Saturday, the Lakers swept all three doubles matches and won five of the six singles matches en route to the victory. The victory over UNCP secured a fifth place finish in the 12-team PBC. 

At No. 1 doubles, Nieto and N. Collantes defeated Pembroke’s Andrea Vukecevic and Naomi Ellis 8-6, while the second-seeded team of Quintal and Koulechova defeated Erin Saltzman and Abil French 8-3. The third-seeded team of Bastos and A. Collantes defeated Lauren Losoncy and Shannon Gentry 8-5. 

In singles, Nieto defeated Vukcevic 7-5 and 6-3, while Collantes beat Ellis 6-2 and 6-1. Third-seeded Koulechova defeated Saltzman 6-0 and 6-1 and fourth-seeded Quintal downed French 6-3 and 6-2. 

Fifth-seeded Bastos prevailed over Losoncy in a third set super tiebreaker 11-9 after splitting the two opening sets. Bastos lost the first set 6-4 and won the second set 6-4. Sixth-seeded A. Collantes fell 6-0 and 6-0 to Gentry.

 

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 Northwood 5, Clayton State 2
Singles
1. Carina Kaempfer (NU) defeated Jackeline Nieto (CCSU) by default
2. Nathalia Collantes (CCSU) and Aurelie Deridzard (NU) DNF
3. Kristina Bogdanovic (NU) defeated Natalia Koulechova (CCSU) 6-3; 6-2
4. Aline Quintal (CCSU) and Berenice Ferrer (NU) DNF
5. Jenny Johannson (NU) defeated Carla Bastos (CCSU) 6-2; 6-3
6. Sara Smith (NU) defeated Adriana Collantes (CCSU) 6-1; 6-0
Doubles
1. Nieto/N. Collantes (CCSU) defeated Kaempfer/Johansson (NU) 8-3
2. Koulechova/Quintal (CCSU) defeated Deridzard/Smith (NU) 9-7
3. Bogdanovic/Fatima Arshad (NU) defeated Bastos/A. Collantes (CCSU) 8-0 

Clayton State 8, UNCP 1
Singles
1. Jackeline Nieto (CCSU) defeated Andrea Vukcevic (UNCP) 7-5; 6-3
2. Nathalia Collantes (CCSU) defeated Naomi Ellis (UNCP) 6-2; 6-1
3. Natalia Koulechova  (CCSU) defeated Erin Saltzman (UNCP) 6-0 and 6-1
4. Aline Quintal (CCSU) defeated Abi French (UNCP) 6-3 and 6-2
5. Carla Bastos (CCSU) defeated Lauren Losoncy (UNCP) 4-6; 6-4; 11-9
6. Shannon Gentry (UNCP) defeated Adriana Collantes (CCSU) 6-0 and 6-0
Doubles
1. Nieto/N. Collantes (CCSU) defeated Vukcevic/Ellis (UNCP) 8-6
2. Koulechova/Quintal (CCSU) defeated Saltzman/French (UNCP) 8-3
3. Bastos/A. Collantes (CCSU) defeated Losoncy/Gentry (UNCP) 8-5

Laker women’s tennis team falls 5-4 to
top-ranked Division III squad Emory Sunday 

Morrow, GA --- April 6, 2003 ---The Clayton College & State University women’s tennis team dropped another close match Sunday, falling to the nation’s top-ranked team in NCAA Division III Emory University 5-4 at the Clayton State Tennis Complex in Morrow, GA.   

The loss, CCSU’s fourth this season by a 5-4 margin drops the Lakers to 6-7 on the season. Clayton State, the 12th ranked team in NCAA Division II, will return to action on Thursday, traveling to face North Greenville College in a 1 p.m. match, followed by playing at Peach Belt Conference foe the University of North Carolina Pembroke on Friday at 2 p.m.  

Sunday’s match went down to the wire and was decided in the final match of the day at No. 1 singles, which featured two of the nation’s top players in Division II and in Division III. Emory University’s Mary Ellen Gordon, the No. 1 ranked player in Division III, prevailed in the three-set affair, defeating Clayton State’s Jackeline Nieto (Caracas, Venezuela), the nation’s 15th ranked player in Division II. Nieto won the first set 6-2 but fell 6-3 and 6-2 in the final two sets.  

 In other singles matches, second-seeded Nathalia Collantes (Bucaramanga, Colombia), the 37th ranked player in the country, remained undefeated on the season (13-0), downing Margaret Moscato 7-5 and 6-2, while third-seeded Natalia Koulechova (Moscow, Russia) defeated Jamie Chan 6-3 and 6-0. 

Clayton State’s fourth-seed Aline Quintal (Coatzacoalcos, Mexico) lost 6-3, 2-6 and 6-2 to Carina Alberelli, while fifth-seeded Carla Bastos (Brasilia, Brazil) lost 6-2 and 6-0 to Emily Warburg. Sixth-seeded Adriana Collantes (Bucaramanga, Colombia) fell 6-2 and 6-0 to Lindsay Tiemeyer.  

In doubles, Clayton State’s top-seeded team of Nieto and N. Collantes, the 15th ranked doubles team in the country, notched its 11th victory of the season, defeating Warburg and Moscato 8-5. Clayton State’s second-seeded doubles team of Quintal and Koulechova downed Chan and Shannon Lovett 8-6, while the third-seeded team of Bastos and A. Collantes lost 8-3 to Alberelli and Katherine Powell 8-3. 

Emory 5, Clayton State 4
Singles
1. Mary Ellen Gordon (EU) defeats Jackeline Nieto (CCSU) 2-6; 6-3; 6-2
2. Nathalia Collantes (CCSU) defeats Margaret Moscato (EU) 7-5; 6-2
3. Natalia Koulechova (CCSU) defeats Jamie Chan (EU) 6-3; 6-0
4. Carina Alberelli (EU) defeats Aline Quintal (CCSU) 6-3; 2-6; 6-2
5. Emily Warburg (EU) defeats Carla Bastos (CCSU) 6-2; 6-0
6. Lindsay Tiemeyer (EU) defeats Adriana Collantes (CCSU) 6-2; 6-0
Doubles
1. Nieto/N. Collantes (CCSU) defeat Warburg/Moscato (EU) 8-5
2. Quintal/Koulechova (CCSU) defeats Chan/Shannon Lovett (EU) 8-6
3. Alberelli/Katherine Powell (EU) defeat Bastos/A. Collantes (CCSU) 8-3

 

 

Laker women’s tennis team falls to PBC rival 
KSU 5-4 Saturday; to host Emory on Sunday 

Marietta, GA --- April 5, 2003 ---The 12th ranked Clayton College & State University women’s tennis was upset Saturday in Peach Belt Conference action, falling to rival and 30th ranked Kennesaw State University 5-4 at the Laurel Park Tennis Center in Marietta, GA.  

With the loss, the Lakers drop to 6-6 on the season and 5-4 in Peach Belt Conference play, while KSU improves to 8-4 overall and 5-4 in the league. The Lakers will return to action on Sunday, hosting Emory University in a 1 p.m. match. 

Kennesaw won two of the three doubles matches and three of the singles matches en route to the victory. The match was a tight one as two of the six singles matches went three sets and one of the doubles matches was settled in a tiebreaker.  

In doubles, Clayton State’s top-seeded team of Jackeline Nieto and Natalia Collantes, the 15th ranked doubles team in the country, won the lone doubles match, defeating KSU’s Laura Puch and Carolyn Ward 8-2. Clayton State’s second-seeded doubles team of Aline Quintal and Natalia Koulechova fell 9-8 after a tiebreaker to KSU’s Loraine Rosmuller and Kamilla Rodriguez, while CCSU’s third-seeded team of Carla Bastos and Adriana Collantes lost 8-0 to Maria Rubert and Jessica Fischetti.  

In singles, top-seeded Nieto (Caracas, Venezuela), the 13th ranked player in the country, prevailed in a three-set affair, defeating KSU’s Puch 4-6, 6-4 and 6-3, while second-seeded N. Collantes (Bucaramanga, Colombia), the 37th ranked player in the country, remained undefeated on the season (12-0), downing Rosmuller 6-3 and 6-3.  

Third-seeded Koulechova (Moscow, Russia) defeated Fischetti 6-0 and 6-1, while fourth-seeded Quintal (Coatzacoalcos, Mexico) lost 6-3 and 3-6 and 6-3 to Rubert. Fifth-seeded Carla Bastos (Brasilia, Brazil) lost 7-5 and 6-0 to Rodriguez, and sixth-seeded A. Collantes fell 6-1 and 6-1 to Megan George.

 # 30 Kennesaw State 5,  #12 Clayton State 4
Singles
1. Jackeline Nieto (CCSU) defeats Laura Puch (KSU) 4-6; 6-4; 6-3
2. Nathalia Collantes (CCSU) defeats Loraine Rosmuller (KSU) 6-3; 6-3
3. Natalia Koulechova (CCSU) defeats Jessica Fischetti (KSU) 6-0; 6-1
4. Mari Rubert (KSU) defeats Aline Quintal (CCSU) 6-1; 3-6; 6-3
5. Kamilla Rodriguez (KSU) defeats Carla Bastos (CCSU) 7-5; 6-0
6. Megan George (KSU) defeats Adriana Collantes (CCSU) 6-1; 6-1
Doubles
1. Nieto/N. Collantes (CCSU) defeat Puch/Carolyn Ward (KSU) 8-2
2. Rosmuller/Rodriguez (KSU) defeat Quintal/Koulechova (CCSU) 9-8 (4)
3. Rubert/Fischetti (KSU) defeat Bastos/A. Collantes (CCSU) 8-0

Clayton State’s Nathalia Collantes named PBC Tennis Player of the Week---AGAIN

Morrow, GA --- April 2, 2003 --- For the second time this season, Clayton College & State University women’s tennis player Nathalia Collantes has been named the Peach Belt Conference Women’s Tennis Player of the Week announced Tuesday by the conference office in Augusta, GA. 

Collantes, the 37th-ranked player in the country, is undefeated on the season with an 11-0 record at No. 2 singles. Over the last two weeks, she has played some of her best tennis of the season, knocking off two nationally ranked players. Collantes was also named PBC Player of the Week in February.

She is 3-0 in the last two weeks of play with victories over Georgia College & State University’s Mia Paavilainen 7-5; 7-6; the nation's 24th-ranked player; Valdosta State University’s Natalia Drabova 6-3; 6-4; and Rollins College’s Carla Prieto, the 40th-ranked player, 4-6; 6-3; 10-8.

In doubles, she and teammate Jackeline Nieto are ranked 15th in the country and sport a 9-2 overall record. The doubles tandem is also 3-0 over the last two weeks, including two victories over doubles teams that are ranked in the top five in the nation.

Collantes and Nieto defeated GC&SU's Luiza Biktyakova and Paavilainen, the second-ranked doubles team, 8-5; Valdosta State's Eva Petschnig and Annika Biro, the 19th-ranked team, 8-2; and Rollins' Vanessa Caddick and Prieto, the fifth-ranked team, 8-4.

A junior from Bucaramanga, Colombia, Collantes is in her third season at Clayton State and has a career 53-14 record in singles play, the school’s best all-time singles mark.

Clayton State, ranked 12th in the country, is 6-5 on the season is scheduled to return to action on Saturday, April 5th, traveling to face Peach Belt Conference rival Kennesaw State at 2 p.m. The team’s next home match will be Sunday, April 6th at 1 p.m. against Emory University.  

##CCSU## 

11th-ranked Lakers fall 5-4 to 
eighth-ranked Rollins Sat. 

Valdosta, GA --- March 29, 2003 ---The 11th-ranked Clayton College & State University women’s tennis team came one victory shy of pulling off an upset Saturday before falling to eighth-ranked Rollins College 5-4 at the Complex Tennis Courts in Valdosta, GA.

The Lakers (6-5) jumped out to an early lead in Saturday’s match, winning at the two top doubles seeds but were unable to finish in singles play, dropping four of the six singles matches.

The top-seeded team of Jackeline Nieto and Natalia Collantes, the 15th-ranked doubles team in the country, downed Rollins’ Vanessa Caddick and Carla Prieto, the fifth-ranked team in the country, 8-4. The win for the Clayton State duo was the team’s 10th victory of the season and the second victory this season over a doubles team that was ranked in the top five in the country.

Clayton State’s second-seeded doubles team of Aline Quintal and Natalia Koulechova defeated Rollins’ Lindsey Soffes and Frances Giron, the 22dn-ranked doubles team, 8-6, while Clayton State’s third-seeded team of Carla Bastos and Adriana Collantes fell 8-2 to Allie Nichols and Jill Oppenheim.

In singles, No. 1 seed Nieto (Caracas, Venezuela), the 13th-ranked player in the country, fell 6-3 and 6-2 to Caddick, the nation’s eighth-ranked player, while second-seeded N. Collantes (Bucaramanga, Colombia), the 37th-ranked player in the country, downed Prieto, the nation’s 40th-ranked player 4-6, 6-3 and 10-4 in a third set super tiebreaker.

Third-seeded Koulechova (Moscow, Russia) defeated Soffes 6-3 and 6-3, while fourth-seeded Quintal (Coatzacoalcos, Mexico) fell 6-4 and 6-1 to Nichols. Fifth-seeded Carla Bastos (Brasilia, Brazil) lost 6-0 and 6-0 to Giron, while A. Collantes fell 6-0 and 6-1 to Oppenheim.

 

#8 Rollins – 5; #11 Clayton State  - 4
Singles
1. Vanessa Caddick (RC) defeats Jackeline Nieto (CCSU) 6-3; 6-2
2. Nathalia Collantes (CCSU) defeats Carla Prieto (RC) 4-6; 6-3; 10-8
3. Natalia Koulechova (CCSU) defeats Lindsey Soffes (RC) 6-3; 6-3
4. Allie Nichols (RC) defeats Aline Quintal (CCSU) 6-4; 6-1
5. Frances Giron (RC) defeats Carla Bastos (CCSU) 6-0; 6-0
6. Jill Oppenheim (RC) defeats Adriana Collantes (CCSU) 6-0; 6-1
Doubles
1. Nieto/N. Collantes (CCSU) defeat Caddick/Prieto (RC) 8-4
2. Quintal/Koulechova (CCSU) defeat Soffes/Giron (RC) 8-6
3. Nichols/Oppenheim (RC) defeats Bastos/A. Collantes (CCSU) 8-2

 Laker women’s tennis team falls to Valdosta State 
7-2 Friday; to face Rollins on Saturday 

Valdosta, GA --- March 28, 2003 ---The 11th-ranked Clayton College & State University women’s tennis team dropped its fourth match of the season on Friday, falling to non-conference and 25th-ranked Valdosta State University 7-2 at the Complex Tennis Courts in Valdosta, GA.

The Lakers (6-4) will try to get back on the winning track Saturday but will have their work cut out for them, squaring off against eighth-ranked Rollins College in an 11 a.m. match at Valdosta State. The Lakers fell in two of the three doubles matches and five of the six singles matches in the loss.

In doubles, the top-seeded team of Jackeline Nieto and Natalia Collantes, the 15th-ranked doubles team in the country, won the lone doubles match, defeating Valdosta’s Eva Petschnig and Annika Biro, the 19th-ranked duo, 8-2. Clayton State’s second-seeded doubles team of Aline Quintal and Natalia Koulechova fell 9-7 to VSU’s Natalia Drabova and Iris Staub, while CCSU’s third-seeded team of Carla Bastos and Adriana Collantes lost 8-2 Claudia Hesse and Emily Miller 8-2.

In singles, second-seeded N. Collantes (Bucaramanga, Colombia), the 37th-ranked player in the country, recorded Clayton State’s only singles victory, downing Drabova 6-3 and 6-4.

Top-seeded Nieto (Caracas, Venezuela), the 13th-ranked player in the country, fell to Petschnig, the 11th-ranked player in the nation, 6-2 and 6-2, while third-seeded Koulechova (Moscow, Russia) fell in a three-set affair to Biro 6-4, 4-6 and 6-2. Fourth-seeded Quintal (Coatzacoalcos, Mexico) lost 2-6 and 6-1 and 6-3 to Staub, while fifth-seeded Carla Bastos (Brasilia, Brazil) lost 4-6 and 6-2 and 6-2 to Francisca Osevamme.  Sixth-seeded A. Collantes fell 3-6, 6-1 and 6-2 to Emily Miller.

Clayton State’s next home match will be Sunday, April 6th, hosting Emory University.

 

##CCSU## 

# 25 Valdosta State 7,  #11 Clayton State 2
Singles
1. Eva Petschnig (VSU) defeats Jackeline Nieto (CCSU) 6-2; 6-2
2. Nathalia Collantes (CCSU) defeats Natalia Drabova (VSU) 6-3; 6-4
3. Annika Biro (VSU) defeats Natalia Koulechova (CCSU) 6-4;4-6;6-2
4. Iris Staub (VSU) defeats Aline Quintal (CCSU) 2-6;6-1; 6-3
5. Francisca Osevamme (VSU) defeats Carla Bastos (CCSU) 4-6; 6-2;6-2
6. Emily Miller (VSU) defeats Adrianan Collantes (CCSU) 3-6; 6-1; 6-2
Doubles
1. Nieto/N. Collantes (CCSU) defeat Petschnig/Biro (VSU) 8-2
2. Drabova/Staub (VSU) defeat Quintal/Koulechova (CCSU) 9-7
3. Claudia Hesse/Miller (VSU) defeat Bastos/A. Collantes (CCSU) 8-2

Laker upset bid falls short at GC&SU; 11th-ranked women’s tennis squad falls 5-4 to sixth-ranked Bobcats 

Milledgeville, GA --- March 23, 2003 ---The Clayton College & State University women’s tennis team came one victory shy of the Peach Belt Conference upset of the season on Sunday before falling 5-4 to conference leader and sixth-ranked Georgia College & State University at the Centennial Center Tennis Facility in Milledgeville, GA.

The 11th-ranked Lakers jumped out to an early lead in Sunday’s match, winning both matches at the two top seeds. The top-seeded team of Jackeline Nieto and Natalia Collantes, the 15th-ranked doubles team in the country, downed GC&SU’s Luiza Biktyakova and Mia Paavilainen 8-5. The win for Nieto and Collantes over Biktyakova and Paavilainen was the second victory this season over the nation’s No. 2 ranked doubles team, as the Clayton State duo also tallied a victory over the highly regarded doubles team in the fall season.

Clayton State’s second-seeded doubles team of Aline Quintal and Natalia Koulechova defeated GC&SU’s Caroline Lefevre and Anna Shchupak 8-4, while GC&SU’s third-seeded team of Annika Perrson and Kremena Vassileva won by default.

In singles, the Lakers also won at the top as No. 1 seed Nieto (Caracas, Venezuela), the 13th ranked player in the country, defeated Biktyakova, the nation’s 12th-ranked player in three sets 4-6, 6-3 and 6-2. Second-seeded Collantes (Bucaramanga, Colombia), the 37th ranked player in the country, downed Paavilainen, the nation’s 24th-ranked player 7-5 and 7-6.

Third-seeded Koulechova (Moscow, Russia) fell in a three-set affair to Lefevre 6-1, 3-6 and 6-3, while fourth-seeded Quintal (Coatzacoalcos, Mexico) fell 7-6 and 6-2 to Shchupak. Fifth-seeded Carla Bastos (Brasilia, Brazil) lost 6-0 and 6-0 to Persson, while the Lakers dropped the sixth-seeded match by default.

The loss drops Clayton State to 6-3 overall and 5-3 in PBC play, while GC&SU improves to 9-0 overall and 5-0 in the league. Clayton State will return to action on Tuesday, March 25, hosting North Greenville College in a 2 p.m. contest.  

#6 GC&SU – 5; #11 Clayton State  - 4
Singles
1. Jackeline Nieto (CCSU) defeats Luiza Biktyakova (GC&SU) 4-6;6-3;6-2
2. Nathalia Collantes (CCSU) defeats Mia Paavilainen (GC&SU) 7-5;7-6
3. Caroline Lefevre (GC&SU) defeats Natalia Koulechova (CCSU) 6-1;3-6;6-3
4. Anna Shchupak (GC&SU) defeats Aline Quintal (CCSU) 7-6;6-2
5. Annika Persson (GC&SU) defeats Carla Bastos (CCSU) 6-0;6-0
6. Kremena Vassileva (GC&SU) wins by default

Doubles
1. Nieto/Collantes (CCSU) defeat Biktyakova/Paavilainen (GC&SU) 8-5
2. Quintal/Koulechova (CCSU) defeat Lefevre/Shchupak (GC&SU) 8-4
3. Persson/Vassileva (GC&SU) win by default.

Clayton State women’s tennis team falls 7-2 to
North Florida Sat.; to face GC&SU on Sun.

Morrow, GA --- March 22, 2003 ---The Clayton College & State University and the University of North Florida women’s tennis teams are ranked 11th and 12th, respectively, in the latest Omni Hotels Intercollegiate Tennis Association poll, but on Saturday, the Ospreys won all the close matches and cruised to a 7-2 victory over the Lakers at the Clayton State Tennis Complex in Morrow, GA. The loss drops Clayton State to 6-2 overall and 5-2 in PBC play, while North Florida improves to 7-5 overall and 4-1 in the league. The UNF victory avenges a 5-3 loss to the Lakers last year in the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regionals, which ended the Ospreys season and sent the Lakers to the 16-team NCAA National Championships.

Clayton State will return to action on Sunday, traveling to Peach Belt Conference leader and sixth-ranked Georgia College & State University in a 1 p.m. match. After Sunday’s match at Georgia College, Clayton State will return to action on Tuesday, March 25, hosting North Greenville College in a 2 p.m. contest.

The Lakers fell behind early in Saturday’s contest, dropping two of the three doubles matches, followed by falling in five of the six singles matches. UNF fourth seed Erika Hirth captured the team’s fifth and game-winning point, defeating CCSU’s Aline Quintal (Coatzacoalcos, Mexico) 6-3 and 6-3.

In other singles matches, top seed and 15th-ranked Jackeline Nieto (Caracas, Venezuela) fell in a three-set match to Camila Sagae 1-6, 6-3 and 7-5. No. 2 seed Nathalia Collantes (Bucaramanga, Colombia) won the lone singles match for the Lakers, defeating UNF’s Allison Davidson 6-4 and 6-3.

In the most competitive match of the day, third seed Natalia Koulechova fell 7-6 (11-9), 3-6 and 5-7 to Liliana Liun Hung in a grueling three-set affair. Koulechova won the first set in an 11-9 tiebreaker before dropping the last two sets. CCSU’s Carla Bastos (Brasilia, Brazil) fell 6-1 and 6-3 to Julie Stoppelli, while sixth seed Adriana Collantes (Bucaramanga, Colombia) lost 6-0 and 6-0 to Melody LeGoff.

In doubles, CCSU’s top-seeded team of Nieto and N. Collantes, the 14th ranked team in the country, defeated Sagae and Hung 8-4. The second-seeded team of Koulechova and Quintal fell 8-3 to Davidson and Hirth, while the third-seeded team of Bastos and A. Collantes fell 8-1 to Stoppelli and LeGoff.

North Florida 7, Clayton State 2
Singles
No. 1 - Camila Sagae (UNF) def. Jackeline Nieto (CCSU) 1-6, 6-3, 7-5
No. 2 - Nathalia Collantes (CCSU) def. Allison Davidson (UNF) 6-4, 6-3
No. 3 - Liliana Hung (UNF) def. Natalia Koulechova (CCSU) 6-7 (11-9), 6-3, 7-5
No. 4 - Erika Hirth (UNF) def. Aline Quintal (CCSU) 6-3, 6-3
No. 5 - Julie Stoppelli (UNF) def. Carla Bastos (CCSU) 6-1, 6-3
No. 6 - Melody LeGoff (UNF) def. Adriana Collantes (CCSU) 6-0, 6-0
Doubles
No. 1 - Nieto/Collantes (CCSU) def. Sagae/Hung (UNF) 8-4
No. 2 - Davidson/Hirth (UNF) def. Koulechova/Quintal (CCSU) 8-3
No. 3 - Stoppelli/LeGoff (UNF) def. Bastos/Collantes (CCSU) 8-1

Laker tennis team slams Peach Belt Conference opponent Columbus State 6-3 Sunday

Columbus, GA --- March 16, 2003 --- The Clayton College & State University women’s tennis team picked up an important Peach Belt Conference victory and in the process pushed its record to 6-1 on the season Sunday, slamming Columbus State University 6-3 in Columbus, GA.  

With the win, the 10th-ranked Lakers improve to 5-1 in PBC action and will return to play on Wednesday, traveling to face Peach Belt foe Kennesaw State University in a 2 p.m. match. Clayton State’s next home match will be Saturday, March 22nd, hosting North Florida in an 11 a.m. contest. 

Trailing 2-1 after doubles play, the Lakers came back and won five of the six singles matches en route to the victory. Two of the victories in singles play were three-set affairs.  

In doubles, the top-seeded team of Jackeline Nieto and Nathalia Collantes, the 14th-ranked team in the country, captured the lone doubles victory, defeating Suzanne Visagie and Marianne Berry 8-4. The second-seeded team of Natalia Koulechova and Aline Quintal fell 8-4 to Natasha Stoop and Stacie Faurot 8-4, while the third-seeded team of Carla Bastos and Adriana Collantes fell 8-3 to Shannon Johnson and Jessica Spencer.  

In singles, top-seeded Nieto (Caracas, Venezuela), the 15th-ranked player in the country, prevailed in a third-set tiebreaker 7-3 to defeat Visage, the 35th-ranked player in the country, 2-6, 6-0 and 7-6. Second-seeded N. Collantes (Bucaramanga, Colombia), the 33rd-ranked player in the nation, defeated Stoop, the 49th-ranked player in the country, 6-2 and 6-1.  

Third-seeded Koulechova (Moscow, Russia) blanked Berry 6-0 and 6-0, while fourth-seeded Quintal (Coatzacoalcos, Mexico) came back to defeat Spencer 3-6, 7-5 and 6-2. After falling in the first set, Quintal trailed 4-1 in the second set before making the comeback. Fifth-seeded Bastos (Brasilia, Brazil) won 6-3 and 6-2 over Johnson, while sixth-seeded A. Collantes (Bucaramanga, Colombia) fell 6-3 and 6-1 to Faurot.

 Clayton State 6, Columbus State 3

Singles
No. 1 – Jackeline Nieto (CCSU) def.  Suzanne Visage (CSU) 6-1, 6-1
No. 2 – Nathalia Collantes (CCSU) def. Natasha Stoop (CSU) 6-2, 6-1
No. 3 – Natalia Koulechova (CCSU) def. Marianne Berry (CSU) 6-0, 6-0
No. 4 – Aline Quintal (CCSU) def. Jessica Spencer (CSU) 6-3, 7-5
No. 5 – Carla Bastos (CCSU) def. Shannon Johnson (CSU) 6-3, 6-2
No. 6 – Stacie Faurot (CSU) def. Adriana Collantes (CCSU) 6-3, 6-1 

Doubles
No. 1 – Nieto/Collantes (CCSU) def. Visage/Berry 8-4
No. 2 – Stoop/Faurot (CSU) def. Koulechova/Quintal (CCSU) 8-4
No. 3 – Johnson/Spencer (CSU) def. Bastos/Collantes (CCSU) 8-3 

 

##CCSU##

Laker tennis team blanks PBC foe USC Aiken 9-0 Thurs.; to face Columbus State Sun. 

MORROW, GA --- March 13, 2003 --- The Clayton College & State University women’s tennis team pushed its record to 5-1 on the season Thursday, blanking Peach Belt Conference opponent the University of South Carolina Aiken 9-0 at the Clayton State Tennis Complex on the campus of Clayton State in Morrow, GA.  

With the win, the 10th-ranked Lakers improve to 4-1 in PBC action and will return to play on Sunday, traveling to face Peach Belt foe Columbus State University in a 1 p.m. match. Clayton State’s next home match will be Saturday, March 22nd, hosting North Florida in an 11 a.m. match. 

In doubles, the top-seeded team of Jackeline Nieto and Nathalia Collantes, the 14th ranked team in the country, won 8-0 over Maria Claudia Romo and Nicole Copp, while the second-seeded team of Natalia Koulechova and Aline Quintal won 8-1 over Dominique Cassetori and Erika Eles. The third-seeded team of Adriana Collantes and Carla Bastos won by default. 

In singles, top-seeded Nieto (Caracas, Venezuela), the 15th-ranked player in the country, won 6-1 and 6-1 over Romo while second-seeded N. Collantes (Bucaramanga, Colombia), the 33rd-ranked player in the nation, won 6-1 and 6-0 over Cassetori.  

Third-seeded Koulechova (Moscow, Russia) won 6-0 and 6-1 over Eles, while fourth-seeded Quintal (Coatzacoalcos, Mexico) prevailed 6-3 and 7-5 over Copp in the tightest match of the day.  Fifth-seeded Bastos (Brasilia, Brazil) won 6-1 and 6-3 over Heather Thornton, and sixth-seeded A. Collantes (Bucaramanga, Colombia) won by default. 

Clayton State 9, USC Aiken 0

Singles
No. 1 – Jackeline Nieto (CCSU) def.  Maria Claudia Romo (USCA) 6-1, 6-1
No. 2 – Nathalia Collantes (CCSU) def. Dominique Cassetori (USCA) 6-1, 6-0
No. 3 – Natalia Koulechova (CCSU) def. Erika Eles (USCA) 6-0, 6-1
No. 4 – Aline Quintal (CCSU) def. Nicole Copp (USCA) 6-3, 7-5
No. 5 – Carla Bastos (CCSU) def. Heather Thornton (USCA) 6-1, 6-3
No. 6 – Adriana Collantes (CCSU) won by default

Doubles
No. 1 – Nieto/Collantes (CCSU) def. Romo/Copp 8-0
No. 2 – Koulechova/Quintal (CCSU) def. Cassetori /Eles (USCA) 8-1
No. 3 – Bastos/Collantes (CCSU) won by default

  

##CCSU##

 Laker tennis team blasts Georgia Perimeter 8-1 

MORROW, GA --- March 12, 2003 --- The Clayton College & State University women’s tennis team got back on the winning track Wednesday, defeating Georgia Perimeter College 8-1 at the Clayton State Tennis Complex in Morrow, GA.  

The Lakers swept all three of the doubles matches and prevailed in five of the six singles matches en route to the victory. Clayton State will return to Peach Belt Conference action on Thursday, hosting the University of South Carolina Aiken in a 2 p.m. match.  

In doubles, the top-seeded team of Jackeline Nieto and Nathalia Collantes, the 14th ranked team in the country, won 8-1 over Royko Yomada and Asheena Bowman, while the second-seeded team of Natalia Koulechova and Aline Quintal won 8-1 over Heather Smith and Ashley Ashabraner. The third-seeded team of Adriana Collantes and Carla Bastos won 8-1 over Jamie Pischer and Paula Belenchia.  

In singles, second-seeded N. Collantes (Bucaramanga, Colombia), the 33rd-ranked player in the nations, won in straight sets 6-0 and 6-0 over Bowman, while third-seeded Koulechova (Moscow, Russia) also won in straight sets over Pischer. Fourth-seeded Quintal (Coatzacoalcos, Mexico) won 6-1 and 6-1 over Belenchia, while fifth-seeded Bastos won 6-1 and 6-2 over Smith. Sixth-seeded A. Collantes (Bucaramanga, Colombia) won 6-0 and 6-1 over Ashabraner.  

The lone loss for the Lakers came at No. 1 singles as Nieto (Caracas, Venezuela), the 15th-ranked player in the nation, fell 10-5 in a tiebreaker after winning the first set 7-5 and falling in the second set 6-0.  

##CCSU##

Laker tennis team drops first match of season, falling to last year’s national runner-up AASU 8-1 

MORROW, GA --- March 4, 2003 --- The Clayton College & State University women’s tennis team dropped its first match of the season on Tuesday, falling 8-1 to last year’s NCAA Division II national runner-up Armstrong Atlantic State University at the Clayton State Tennis Complex in Morrow, GA. 

Despite the convincing 8-1 team score, several of the matches were close as the Lakers fell 8-6 in two of the doubles matches and lost two match deciding tie-breakers in singles play. Clayton State will return to action on Thursday, March 13th, hosting Georgia Perimeter College in a 2 p.m. match.  

The lone victory for the Lakers came in singles as junior Nathalia Collantes (Bucaramanga, Colombia), the 33rd- ranked player in the country defeated Laura Peaty 6-0 and 6-2.  

In other singles matches, top-seeded junior Jackeline Nieto (Caracas, Venezuela), the 15th-ranked player in the nation, fell to Zsofi Golopencza, the second-ranked player in Division II,  6-1 and 6-0. Third-seeded junior Natalia Koulechova (Moscow, Russia) fell 10-3 in a tiebreaker after splitting sets with Caroline Grage. Koulechova lost the first set 6-3 before coming back to win the second set 6-0.  

Junior Aline Quintal (Coatzacoalcos, Mexico) also dropped a tiebreaker 10-7 after splitting sets with Manuela Emmrich, the 34th ranked player in the nation. She fell in the first set 6-3 before winning the second set 6-4. Fifth seed Carla Bastos  (Brasilia, Brazil) fell 6-1 and 6-1 to Gemma Vaughan, while sixth seed Adriana Collantes (Bucaramanga, Colombia) lost 6-0 and 6-0 to Alejandra Aguilar 6-0 and 6-0.  

In doubles, the top-seeded and 14th-ranked team of Nieto and N. Collantes fell to Golopencza and Emmrich, the sixth-seeded team in the country. The AASU No. 2 doubles team of Grage and Peaty defeated Koulechova and Quintal 8-6, while the third-seeded CCSU team of A. Collantes and Castos fell to Aguilar and Vaughan 6-1 and 6-1.  

Armstrong State 8, Clayton State 1

Singles
No. 1 – Zsofi Golopencza (AASSU) def. Jackeline Nieto (CCSU)  6-1; 6-0
No. 2 - Nathalia Collantes (CCSU) def. Laura Peaty (AASU) 6-0; 6-2
No. 3 – Caroline Grage (AASU) def. Natalia Koulechova (CCSU) 3-6; 6-0; (10-3)
No. 4 – Manuela Emmrich (AASU) def. Aline Quintal (CCSU) 3-6; 6-4; (10-7)
No. 5 – Gemma Vaughan (AASU) def. Carla Bastos (CCSU) 6-1; 6-1
No. 6 – Alejandra Aguilar (AASU) def. Adriana Collantes (CCSU) 6-0; 6-0

Doubles
No. 1 – Golopencza/Emmrich (AASU) def. Nieto/N. Collantes (CCSU) 8-6
No. 2 – Grage/Peaty (AASU) def. Koulechova/Quintal (CCSU) 8-6
No. 3 – Aguilar/Vaughan (CCSU) def. Bastos/A. Collantes (CCSU) 8-1

Laker tennis team improves to 4-0 with 5-4 win Sun. over USCS; to host AASU on Tues. 

MORROW, GA --- March 2, 2003 --- The Clayton College & State University women’s tennis team pushed its record to 4-0 on the season Sunday, edging Peach Belt Conference opponent the University of South Carolina Spartanburg 5-4 at the Clayton State Tennis Complex in Morrow, GA. 

After falling behind 2-1 in doubles, the Lakers won at the top four seeds in singles to pull out the victory. The Lakers improve to 3-0 in the PBC with the win. Clayton State will return to action on Tuesday, hosting Peach Belt rival Armstrong Atlantic State University in an 11 a.m. match. The Pirates finished last year as the NCAA Division II national runner-up and are the defending PBC champions. 

In doubles Sunday, the top-seeded team of Jackeline Nieto (Caracas, Venezuela) and Nathalia Collantes (Bucaramanga, Colombia), the 14th ranked doubles team in the country, captured the lone doubles win for the Lakers, winning 8-4 over Marcela Gonzalez and Zarah DeSilva. The second-seeded team of Aline Quintal (Coatzacoalcos, Mexico) and Carla Bastos (Brasilia, Brazil) fell 9-8 (7-5) to Nina Lesnanska and Martina Stoklaskova, while the third-seeded team of Natalia Koulechova (Moscow, Russia) and Adriana Collantes (Bucaramanga, Colombia), lost 8-2 to Kristina Ribicic and Paloma Castillo.  

Top-seeded Nieto, the 15th-ranked player in Division II, won 6-1 and 6-1 in singles over Gonzalez, while second-seeded N. Collantes, the 33rd-ranked player, won 6-4 and 6-2 over Stoklaskova. Third-seeded Koulechova won 6-1 and 6-2 over DeSilva and fourth-seeded Quintal won 6-4 and 6-2 over Castillo. Fifth-seeded Bastos fell 6-3 and 7-5 to Lesnanska, while A. Collantes lost 6-0 and 6-0 to Ribicic.  

Clayton State 5, USC Spartanburg 4

Singles
No. 1 –Jackeline Nieto (CCSU) def. Marcela Gonzalez (USCS) 6-1; 6-1
No. 2 - Nathalia Collantes (CCSU) def. Martina Stoklaskova (USCS) 6-4; 6-1

No. 3 - Natalia Koulechova (CCSU) def. Zarah DeSilva (USCS) 6-1, 6-2
No. 4 – Aline Quintal (CCSU) def. Paloma Castillo (USCS) 6-4; 6-2
No. 5 – Nina Lesnanska (USCS) def. Carla Bastos (CCSU) 6-3; 7-5
No. 6 – Kristina Ribicic (USCS) def. Adriana Collantes (CCSU) 6-0; 6-0

Doubles
No. 1 –Nieto/N. Collantes (CCSU) def. Gonzalez/Stoklaskova (USCS) 8-4
No. 2 – DeSilva/Lesnanska (USCS) def. Quintal/Bastos (CCSU) 9-8 (7-5)
 No. 3 – Ribicic/Castillo (USCS) def. Koulechova/A. Collantes (CCSU) 8-2

   

####CCSU####

 Clayton State’s Nathalia Collantes named
Peach Belt Conference Tennis Player of the Week 

Morrow, GA --- February 26, 2003 --- Clayton College & State University women’s tennis player Nathalia Collantes was named Tuesday the Peach Belt Conference Women’s Tennis Player of the Week, the first time a Clayton State player has ever received the honor.

Collantes, the 33rd-ranked player in the country, won both her singles matches last week. She defeated Division I Jacksonville State’s Elisa Benhaim 6-3; 4-0 (retired) before slamming Francis Marion University’s 6-2; 6-1. Collantes is 3-0 on the season playing at the No. 2 singles position for the Lakers.

In doubles, the 14th-ranked team of Collantes and Nieto defeated JSU’s Sally Pearson and Michelle Doshner 8-6 and FMU's Ana Carias and Etrecia Coetzee 8-4.

Collantes, a junior from Bucaramanga, Colombia, is in her third season at Clayton State and has a career 42-14 record in singles play, the school’s second best all-time singles record.

Clayton State is 3-0 on the season is scheduled to return to action on Saturday, traveling to face last year’s NAIA national runner-up in Auburn University at Montgomery. Clayton State was to have played Peach Belt Conference rival Columbus State today (Wed., Feb. 24), but the match was postponed due to rain.

The Lakers next home match will be Sunday, March 2, hosting the University of South Carolina Spartanburg in an 11:30 a.m. match. The team will return to action on Tuesday, March 4th, hosting defending PBC champion and last year’s NCAA Division II national runner-up Armstrong Atlantic State University. The match will begin at 11 a.m. at the Clayton State Tennis Complex.  

##CCSU##

Clayton State women’s tennis team slams
PBC foe Francis Marion 8-1 Sunday 

Morrow, GA --- February 23, 2003 ---The 10th ranked Clayton College & State University women's tennis team posted its third win of the season Sunday, slamming Francis Marion 8-1 Sunday at the Clayton State tennis complex on the campus of CCSU in Morrow, GA.

The Lakers (3-0) swept all six of the singles matches and won two of the three doubles matches to cruise to the Peach Belt Conference victory. The win improved the Lakers to 2-0 in conference play.

In doubles, CCSU’s top-seeded team of Jackeline Nieto (Caracas, Venezuela) and Nathalia Collantes (Bucaramanga, Colombia), the 14th ranked team in the country, defeated Ana Carias and Etrecia Coetzee 8-4, while the second-seed team of Natalia Koulechova (Moscow, Russia) and Aline Quintal (Coatzacoalcos, Mexico) also won 8-4 over Maria Ava-Lallemant and Stephanie Schaller. The third-seeded team of Carla Bastos (Brasilia, Brazil) and Adriana Collantes (Bucaramanga, Colombia) fell 8-4 to Lillian Jamieson and Stephanie Bush. 

In singles, 15th ranked and top-seeded Nieto defeated Carias 7-5 and 6-2, while No. 2 seed and 33rd ranked N. Collantes defeated Coetzee 6-2 and 6-1. Third-seeded Koulechova won 6-0 and 6-3 over Bush, while fourth-seeded Quintal won 6-0 and 6-1 over Jamieson. Fifth-seeded Bastos defeated Ava-Lallemant 6-4 and 7-5, while sixth seeded A. Collantes won 6-4, 1-6 and 6-2 over Amy Verburg. 

Clayton State will return to action on Wednesday, traveling to face PBC opponent Columbus State University, followed by traveling to face Auburn University at Montgomery on Saturday, March 1. The Lakers’ next home match will be Tuesday, March 4, hosting PBC foe Armstrong Atlantic State University in an 11 a.m. match.  

 Clayton State 8, Francis Marion 1

Singles
No. 1 –Jackeline Nieto (CCSU) def.  Ana Carias (FMU) 7-5; 6-2
No. 2 - Nathalia Collantes (CCSU) def. Etrecia Coetzee (FMU) 6-2; 6-1
No. 3 - Natalia Koulechova (CCSU) def. Stephanie Bush (FMU) 6-0, 6-3
No. 4 – Aline Quintal (CCSU) def. Lillian Jamieson (FMU) 6-0, 6-1
No. 5 – Carla Bastos (CCSU) def. Maria Ava-Lallemant (FMU) 6-4; 7-5
No. 6 - Adriana Collantes (CCSU) def. Amy Verburg (FMU) 6-4; 1-6; 6-2

Doubles
No. 1 –Nieto/Collantes (CCSU) def. Carias/Coetzee (FMU) 8-4
No. 2 - Koulechova/Quintal (CCSU) def. Ava-Lallemant/Schaller (FMU) 8-4
No. 3 – Jamieson/Bush (FMU) def. Bastos/Collantes (CCSU) 8-4

Clayton State women’s tennis team defeats
Division I Jacksonville State 4-3 Wednesday 

Jacksonville, AL --- February 20, 2003 ---The 10th ranked Clayton College & State University women's tennis team posted its second win of the season Wednesday, defeating Division I opponent Jacksonville State University 4-3 in Jacksonville, AL.

Clayton State (2-0) won two of the doubles and three of the singles matches to capture the program’s first-ever victory over a NCAA Division I program. In Division I team scoring, a squad receives only one point for winning two-of-three doubles matches or all three doubles matches. All six of the singles matches are worth a point, meaning there a total of seven team points possible in the match.

In doubles, CCSU’s top-seeded team of Jackeline Nieto (Caracas, Venezuela) and Nathalia Collantes (Bucaramanga, Colombia), the 14th ranked team in the country, defeated Sally Pearson and Michelle Doshner 8-6, while the second-seeded team of Aline Quintal (Coatzacoalcos, Mexico) and Natalia Koulechova (Moscow, Russia) won 8-1 over Elisa Benhaim and Heather Miller 8-1. The third-seeded team of Carla Bastos (Brasilia, Brazil) and Adriana Collantes (Bucaramanga, Colombia) fell 8-4 to Gaby Baca and Zeynep Gurkaynak.

In singles, 15th ranked and top-seeded Nieto fell 6-1 and 6-4 to Pearson, while No. 2 seed and 33rd ranked N. Collantes defeated Benhaim 6-3 and 4-0 (retired). Third-seeded Koulechova won 6-0 and 6-0 over Gurkaynak, while fourth-seeded Quintal won 7-5 and 7-6 over Doshner. Fifth-seeded Bastos fell 6-3 and 6-2 to Miller, while sixth-seeded A. Collantes was defeated 6-3 and 6-1 by Baca.

Clayton State will return to action this weekend with two matches at home. The Lakers will face Lees-McRae at 2 p.m. on Saturday before hosting Peach Belt Conference opponent Francis Marion at 11 a.m. on Sunday.

 Clayton State 4, Jacksonville State 3

Singles
No. 1 – Sally Pearson (JSC) def. Jackeline Nieto (CCSU) 6-1; 6-4
No. 2 - Nathalia Collantes (CCSU) def. Elisa Benhaim (JSU) 6-3; 6-4 (retired)
No. 3 - Natalia Koulechova (CCSU) def. Gurkaynak (JSU) 6-0, 6-0
No. 4 – Aline Quintal (CCSU) def. Michelle Doshner (JSU) 7-5; 7-6
No. 5 – Carla Bastos (CCSU) def. Heather Miller (JSU) 6-3; 6-2
No. 6 - Adriana Collantes (CCSU) def. Gaby Baca (JSU) 6-3; 6-1

Doubles
No. 1 –Nieto/Collantes (CCSU) def. Pearson/Doshner (JSU) 8-6
No. 2 - Koulechova/Quintal (CCSU) def. Benhaim/Miller (JSU) 8-1
No. 3 – Baca/Gurkaynak (JSU) def. Bastos/Collantes (CCSU) 8-4


Clayton State women’s tennis team defeats
Augusta State 7-2 in season-opening tennis match

Morrow, GA---February 9, 2003---The 10th ranked Clayton College & State University women's tennis team opened its 2003 season on a positive note, defeating Peach Belt Conference opponent Augusta State University 7-2 Sunday at the Clayton State Tennis Complex in Morrow, GA.

The top match of the day was at No. 1 singles as Augusta State’s Ana Skafar, the 11th ranked player in the country, defeated Clayton State top-seeded junior Jackeline Nieto (Caracas, Venezuela) in a three-set duel. Skafar won the match in a third set tiebreaker 7-6 (7-2) after winning the first set 6-2. Nieto, the 15th ranked player in the nation, won the second set 7-5.

In other matches, Clayton State junior Nathalia Collantes (Bucaramanga, Colombia), the nation’s 33rd ranked player, won 6-2 and 6-3 over second-seeded Patricia Zurita, while third-seeded junior Natalia Koulechova (Moscow, Russia) won 6-0 and 6-2 over Hayley Bakker. Fourth-seeded junior Aline Quintal (Coatzacoalcos, Mexico) won 6-0 and 6-3 over Patricia Lozano, while fifth-seeded freshman Carla Bastos (Brasilia, Brazil) and sixth-seeded sophomore Adriana Collantes (Bucaramanga, Colombia) each won by default.

In doubles, the top-seeded Clayton State team of Nieto and Collantes, ranked 14th in the nation, fell 8-2 to the 18th ranked team of Skafar and Zurita, while Clayton State’s No. 2 team of Koulechova and Quintal defeated Bakker and Lozano 8-6. The Clayton State team of Bastos and Collantes won by default.

The Lakers will return to action on Saturday, February 15, traveling to face Peach Belt Conference rival Georgia College & State University in a 1 p.m. match. The Lakers’ next home match will be Sunday, February 16, hosting PBC opponent the University of South Carolina Spartanburg in an 11 a.m. match.

Clayton State 7, Augusta State 2

Singles
No. 1 – Ana Skafar (ASU) def. Jackeline Nieto (CCSU) 6-2, 5-7, 7-6 (7-2)
No. 2 - Nathalia Collantes (CCSU) def. Patricia Zurita (ASU) 6-2, 6-3
No. 3 - Natalia Koulechova (CCSU) def. Hayley Bakker (ASU) 6-0, 6-2
No. 4 – Aline Quintal (CCSU) def. Patricia Lozano (ASU) 6-0, 6-3
No. 5 – Carla Bastos (CCSU) def. Melissa Bruzzese (ASU) by default
No. 6 - Adriana Collantes (CCSU) won by default

Doubles
No. 1 – Skafar/Zurita (ASU) def. Nieto/Collantes (CCSU) 8-2
No. 2 - Koulechova/Quintal (CCSU) def. Bakker/Lozano (ASU) 8-6
No. 3 – Bastos/Collantes (CCSU) won by default

Clayton State women’s tennis team set to open season Sunday against Augusta 

Morrow, GA --- February 5, 2003 --- Coming off its first-ever bid to the round of 16 in the NCAA Women’s Tennis Championships in 2002, the Clayton College & State University women’s tennis team is set to open the 2003 season and make another run to the national tournament.

The Lakers first chance on their road back to the NCAAs will come on Sunday, February 9, as the squad will host Peach Belt Conference opponent Augusta State University in a 2 p.m. match. Clayton State was scheduled to open the season on Friday, February 7, but the match was postponed due to the forecast of inclement weather.

Clayton State, ranked 10th in the preseason Intercollegiate Tennis Association/Omni Hotels Division II rankings this year, finished 2002 with a 16-8 record, falling in the NCAA Championship quarterfinals to Abilene Christian in Kansas City, MO. The Lakers advanced to the NCAA Championships, winning its section of the Mid-Atlantic Regional, defeating Lees-McRae College and the University of North Florida.

“We are excited about the upcoming season,” said head coach Elizabeth Nieto, in her third season at Clayton State. “We have made huge strides the last two seasons in our program from winning the Peach Belt in 2001 to advancing to the round of 16 at the NCAA tournament last year. We hope to take it to the next level this season.”

Four players from last year’s team will return in 2003, including the team’s top four seeds. Top-seeded junior Jackeline Nieto (Caracas, Venezuela), second-seeded junior Nathalia Collantes (Bucaramanga, Colombia), third-seeded junior Aline Quintal (Coatzacoalcos, Mexico) and fourth-seeded junior Natalia Koulechova (Moscow, Russia) will all return for the Lakers.

Freshman Carla Bastos (Brasilia, Brazil) and sophomore Adriana Collantes (Bucaramanga, Colombia) join the Lakers for their first season. 

 Nieto, who was named an All-American in 2002, the nation's 2002 ITA Player to Watch and to the 2002 Peach Belt All-Conference team, will open the 2003 season as the 15th-ranked player in the nation. She finished 2002 with a 13-8 record and had several impressive victories, defeating the fifth-ranked singles player in Lynn University's Monika Mastalirova, and the 14th-ranked singles player in Rollins College's Vanessa Caddick.

Nathalia Collantes, who was also named to last year’s All-PBC team, is 33rd in the preseason singles rankings after finishing last 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.

The doubles team of Nieto and Collantes, Clayton State’s record holders in singles season and career doubles matches, also returns and is ranked 14th in the preseason rankings. The duo has a 37-13 record over the last two seasons and had an impressive win this fall, defeating Georgia College & State University’s Luiza Biktyakova and Mia Paavilainen, currently ranked second in the nation in the preseason rankings.

Third-seeded singles player Quintal will return for her second season after finishing last season with an 11-8 record. Koulechova, who holds Clayton State’s all-time best singles winning percentage (43-18; .768), returns for her third season after finishing last season with a 19-4 mark in dual matches.

            The Lakers’ 2003 schedule will once again be one of the toughest the nation has to offer as the Lakers will face two defending national champions and two runner-up national championship finishers. Clayton State will face NCAA Division II national runner-up Armstrong State along with NAIA national champion Brenau University, NAIA national runner-up Auburn-Montgomery University and NCAA Division III national champion Emory University.

Clayton State’s Peach Belt Conference features seven teams that are ranked among the top 33 in the country. Behind AASU ranked second and CCSU 10th, North Florida is ranked 11th, Columbus State University, 12th; Georgia College & State University 13th; Kennesaw State University, 31st; and the University of South Carolina Spartanburg, 33rd.

In addition, the Lakers will also face Division II’s ninth-ranked team in Rollins College and the NAIA’s sixth ranked team in Shorter College along with other Division II nationally ranked teams in Valdosta State, 25th; Northwood University, 28th and Lee-McRae, 37th.

 In 2002, CCSU defeated seven squads ranked among the top 36 teams in the nation, including three teams in the top 15. Clayton State's appearance in the 16-team national championship event last year, 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 preseason
ITA Division II women's tennis poll   

Morrow, GA --- December 6, 2002 --- Coming off its first-ever bid to the round of 16 in the NCAA Championships in 2002, the Clayton College & State University women’s tennis team is ranked 10th in the 2002-03 preseason Intercollegiate Tennis Association/Omni Hotels Division II rankings released earlier this week.

Clayton State, ranked 10th in the final ITA poll last season, finished 2002 with a 16-8 record, falling in the NCAA Championship quarterfinals to Abilene Christian in Kansas City, MO. The Lakers advanced to the NCAA Championships, winning its section of the Mid-Atlantic Regional, defeating Lees-McRae and North Florida.

Four players from last year’s team will return in 2003, including the team’s top four seeds. Top-seeded junior Jackeline Nieto (Caracas, Venezuela), second-seeded junior Nathalia Collantes (Bucaramanga, Colombia), third-seeded junior Aline Quintal (Coatzacoalcos, Mexico) and fourth-seeded junior Natalia Koulechova (Moscow, Russia) will all return for the Lakers. Freshman Carla Bastos (Brasilia, Brazil) joins the Lakers for her first season, and the squad will have one more addition in the spring. 

 Nieto, who was named an All-American in 2002, the nation's 2002 ITA Player to Watch and to the 2002 Peach Belt All-Conference team, will open the 2003 season as the 15th-ranked player in the nation. She finished 2002 with a 13-8 record and had several impressive victories, defeating the fifth-ranked singles player in Lynn University's Monika Mastalirova, and the 14th-ranked singles player in Rollins College's Vanessa Caddick.

Collantes, who was also named to last year’s All-PBC team, is 33rd in the preseason singles rankings after finishing last 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.

The doubles team of Nieto and Collantes, Clayton State’s record holders in singles season and career doubles matches, is ranked 15th in the preseason rankings. The duo has a 37-13 record over the last two seasons and had an impressive win this fall, defeating Georgia College & State University’s Luiza Biktyakova and Mia Paavilainen, currently ranked second in the nation in the preseason rankings.

Third-seeded singles player Quintal will return for her second season after finishing last season with an 11-8 record. Koulechova, who holds Clayton State’s all-time best singles winning percentage (43-18; .768), returns after finishing last season with a 19-4 mark in dual matches.

In 2002, CCSU defeated seven squads ranked among the top 36 teams in the nation, including three teams in the top 15. Clayton State's appearance in the 16-team national championship event last year, 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.

Clayton State will open its season, hosting Peach Belt Conference opponent the University of South Carolina Aiken in a 2 p.m. match on Friday, February 7.

####CCSU####