Women's Tennis Tops Youngstown State, Detroit To Advance To Championship Match On Sunday

April 28, 2007

Indianapolis, Ind. - Newcomer of the Year Molly Casperson went undefeated at singles and doubles as the No. 2 seed Bulldogs claimed a 4-0 sweep of No. 7 Youngstown State in the opening round of the Horizon League Championship before scoring a 4-2 decision over No. 3 Detroit in the semifinals on Saturday (April 28). With the wins, Butler will advance to the championship match against top-seeded UIC on Sunday (April 29).

The Bulldogs will face the Flames for the second-straight season in the league championship match. UIC claimed a 4-1 decision in last year's meeting.

Casperson scored a pair of wins at No. 1 singles, ousting Michelle Fuleky of Youngstown State 6-1, 6-2 before rallying back from a first-set defeat to Annie Moore of Detroit for a 1-6, 6-4, 6-2 victory. She also teamed with Becky Jenkins at No. 2 doubles in notching wins against both opponents.

The Bulldogs made quick work of the Penguins in the opener, claiming the doubles point with wins at No. 1 and No. 2. After Casperson scored a win at No. 1, Michelle Hawes tallied a 6-3, 6-1 victory at No. 3 while Chelsey Casperson added a 6-4, 6-1 win at No. 5.

Butler staked itself to a 1-0 lead with the doubles point against Detroit, this time scoring wins at No. 2 and No. 3.

At singles, Tiffany McLoughlin picked up a 6-3, 6-1 win at No. 2, while Jenkins scored a 6-3, 6-0 victory at No. 4. Detroit, however, would tally decisions at No. 3 and 5 to remain even before Molly Casperson rallied for the deciding point at No. 1.

The Bulldogs will face UIC beginning at 10:15 a.m. at the North Central High School Tennis Courts.

Butler 4, Youngstown State 0
Singles
No 1. Molly Casperson def. Michelle Fuleky, 6-1, 6-2
No 2. Tiffany McLoughlin & Gina Peretti, DNF
No 3. Michelle Hawes def. Tanisha Welch, 6-3, 6-1
No 4. Becky Jenkins & Emily Thayer, DNF
No 5. Chelsey Casperson def. Nicole Haralambopolous, 6-4, 6-1
No 6. Carrie Rachon & Kelly Culbertson, DNF

Doubles
No 1. McLoughlin/Hawes def. Fuleky/Peretti, 9-8(4)
No 2. Casperson/Jenkins def. Thayer/Haralambopolous, 9-7
No 3. Culbertson/Welch def. C.Casperson/Rachon, 8-5

Butler 4, Detroit 2
Singles
No 1. Molly Casperson def. Annie Moore 1-6, 6-4, 6-2
No 2. Tiffany McLoughlin def. Svetlana Flankova, 6-3, 6-4
No 3. Aneta Maricevic def. Michelle Hawes 6-2, 3-6, 6-2
No 4. Becky Jenkins def. Stephanie Hill, 6-3, 6-0
No 5. Kelly Davis def. Chelsey Casperson 7-6(1), 7-6(4)
No 6. Carrie Rachon & Amy Inman DNF

Doubles
No 1 Moore/Maricevic (UDM) def. McLoughlin/Hawes 8-4
No 2 M. Casperson/Jenkins (BU) def. Davis/Flankova 8-4
No 3 C. Casperson/Rachon(BU) def. Ingrid Stensvaag 8-1