Feb. 28, 2004

SANTA CLARA, Calif. - The Santa Clara University women's tennis team fell 4-3 to UC Santa Barbara this afternoon at the Degheri Tennis Center. The Broncos' overall record falls to 4-5, with three of those five losses at 4-3 scores. The Gauchos' record evens to 3-3.

Santa Clara swept doubles play to take the afternoon's first team point. In singles action, freshman Kimberly Daniel improved to 5-0 on the spring season with her 6-0, 6-3 victory over UCSB's Kristen Wilson on court five. The Gauchos grabbed a point with Andrea Pintar's court two victory, but Santa Clara moved forward with a 3-1 match lead with fellow freshman Kelly Leathers' 6-2, 7-5 win over Leslie Damion.

The Gauchos swept the remaining three contests in hotly-contested three-set battles. Marielle Gruenig clinched the match with a 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 victory over junior Janalle Kaloi.

"Both teams fought hard, I just think we missed out on some opportunities to put the ball away," assistant coach Brett Masi said.

The Broncos remain at the Degheri Tennis Center as part of a five-match homestand. Santa Clara will host Davison College on Wednesday at 3 p.m. and follow with weekend matches against Nevada and CS Northridge.

UC Santa Barbara def. Santa Clara 4-3

Doubles
1. Kaloi/Cochrane (SCU) def. Damion/Gruenig (UCSB) 8-5
2. Erika Barnes /Leathers (SCU) def. Kuhle/Pintar (UCSB) 8-5
3. Knutson/Daniel (SCU) def. Chelsea Dillon/Wilson (UCSB) 8-6

Singles
1. Marielle Gruenig (UCSB) def. Janalle Kaloi (SCU) 6-3, 4-6, 6-4*
2. Andrea Pintar (UCSB) def. Catherine Cochrane (SCU) 6-4, 6-1
3. Jen Kuhle (UCSB) def. Casey Knutson (SCU) 6-3, 3-6, 6-3
4. Kelly Leathers (SCU) def. Leslie Damion (UCSB) 6-2, 7-5
5. Kimberly Daniel (SCU) def. Kristen Wilson (UCSB) 6-0, 6-3
6. Amy Vyhnis (UCSB) def. Jessie Strunk (SCU) 5-7, 6-3, 6-3

* Clinched Team Victory