Kruse Falls In Opening Round of NCAA Championships

GAINESVILLE, Fla. - Middle Tennessee junior Manon Kruse lost 6-3, 7-5 to Jewel Peterson of Southern California in the opening round of the NCAA Singles Tennis Championships Monday at the Alfred Ring Tennis Complex on the University of Florida campus.

Paired against No. 8^th seed Peterson Kruse, ranked No. 52 in the ITA, fell in the opening set 6-3. She fought back, however in the second set, and led 5-2. Peterson rallied and won five straight games to take the match.

"I was really proud of the way Manon competed," said head coach Randy Holden. "Manon put herself in the situation to win, but Jewel Peterson stepped it up at just the right time."

"Fortunately, I was able to put my game together at the right time and win the match," Peterson said. " I didn't want to get that far down to her in the second game, but give her credit, she [Kruse] played really well. "

Kruse will be back on the court on Tuesday when she and partner Stacy Varnell compete in the NCAA Doubles Championships. The duo, ranked 19^th in the ITA, is matched against in-state rival and No. 3 seeded Sarah Riske and Aleke Tsoubanos of Vanderbilt who is also ranked No. 3 in the ITA. The two pairs faced each other at the start of the spring season in Nashville as Riske and Tsoubanos defeated Kruse and Varnell 8-1.

"We are really acquainted with this pair from Vanderbilt," Holden said. "We will go into the match ready to play them."

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