April 5, 2002

(San Francisco, CA) - USF women's tennis beat West Coast Conference and Bay Area rival Saint Mary's 4-3 in a thrilling match at the Olympic Club on Thursday. With the win, not only do the Lady Dons improve their overall record to 6-6 on the season, but they also defeat the Gaels for the first time in recent memory to build momentum heading into the WCC Tournament April 19-21, hosted by Saint Mary's in Moraga.

USF number one Gabi Ruiz made short work of Catalina Fillol, 6-0, 6-3, while number two Caroline Tweeton won her match after her opponent retired with the score 5-5 in the opening set. Ana Skogerboe also won for USF at number four singles 6-3, 7-5. The Gaels won at number three, five and six singles.

San Francisco captured the doubles point with Ruiz and Skogerboe winning 8-2 at number one doubles, while Tweeton and Carey Savage won 8-3 at number two. Saint Mary's prevailed at number three doubles.

Head coach Hilary Somers is thrilled with the way her team competed.

"I am so proud of my team and the way they competed. Gabi (Ruiz) was terrific and our performance in doubles really helped us. Overall, it was a great effort by everyone and it is a win to savor," Somers said.

USF 4, Saint Mary's 3

DOUBLES:

1. Ruiz/Skogerboe (USF) def. Fillol/Schuman (SMC) 8-2, 2. Tweeton/Savage (USF) def. Hunstock/Verrier (SMC) 8-3, 3. Wolford/Ortega (SMC) def. Duncan/Kobayashi (USF) 8-1

SINGLES:

1. Gabi Ruiz (USF) def. Catalina Fillol (SMC) 6-0, 6-3, 2. Caroline Tweeton (USF) def. Annie Wolford (SMC) 5-5 (retired), 3. Valerie Verner (SMC) def. Carey Savage (USF) 7-5, 7-6 (7-5), 4. Anna Skogerbo (USF) def. Nicole Hunstock (SMC) 6-3, 7-5, 5. Megan Schuman (SMC) def. Michelle Duncan (USF) 4-6, 6-3, 7-6, 6. Lindsay Herndon-Ortega (SMC) def. Nikki Kobayashi (USF) 6-4, 6-0