Blue Raiders Fall 4-0

MONROE, La. - The Blue Raiders fell to No. 1 seeded No. 28 Denver 4-0 in the second round of the Sun Belt Conference Championships on Saturday ending the 2008 season.

The Blue Raiders lost the doubles point to begin the match and could never catch up. Junior Marlene Chemin and sophomore Stephanie Parkison lost their match 8-3 to Julia Bauregger and Mallory Voelker to begin play.

Then junior Pooja Kommireddi and freshman Shannon Hartmann fell to Annette Aksdal and Bhavanie Tirumurti 8-4 to round out doubles action. Seniors Claudia Szabo and Ann-Kristin Siljestrom were trailing Ute Schnoy and Kyla Iwinski 6-5 when their match was called because the point had been won by the Pioneers.

In singles action, Parkison fell 6-1, 6-0 to Aksdal as Denver took a 2-0 lead. Then junior Andrea Herrera lost her match 6-0, 6-1 to Iwinski.

Denver clinched the match as Voelker defeated Siljestrom 6-1, 6-1. Play will continue in the women's tournament later today with the championship and consolation matches being played on Sunday.

The Blue Raiders end the 2008 season with a record of 9-16 overall and 3-4 in Sun Belt Conference play.

Singles
1. Mallory Voelker (DU) def. A.K. Siljestrom (MT) 6-1, 6-1
2. Annette Aksdal (DU) def. Stephanie Parkison (MT) 6-1, 6-0
3. Julia Bauregger (DU) vs. Claudia Szabo (MT) 6-3, 0-0, unfinished
4. Ute Schnoy (DU) vs. Marlene Chemin (MT) 6-3, 3-1, unfinished
5. Kyla Iwinski (DU) def. Andrea Herrera (MT) 6-0, 6-1
6. Bhavani Tirumurti (DU) vs. Pooja Kommireddi (MT) 6-4, 1-1, unfinished

Doubles
1. Julia Bauregger/Mallory Voelker (DU) def. Stephanie Parkison/Marlene Chemin (MT) 8-3
2. Ute Schnoy/Kyla Iwinski (DU) vs. Claudia Szabo/A.K. Siljestrom (MT) 6-5, unfinished
3. Annette Aksdal/Bhavani Tirumurti (DU) def. Pooja Kommireddi/Shannon Hartmann (MT) 8-4

Match Notes:
Middle Tennessee 9-14
Denver 19-2; National ranking #28
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3); Singles (2,5,1)

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