Feb. 16, 2002

The University of Denver women's tennis team earned an exciting 4-3 victory over the Air Force Academy, Saturday (Feb. 16) at Stapleton Tennis Pavilion. After losing eight of nine matches to the Falcons last fall, the Pioneers regrouped en route to their third win of the young season.

After losing the doubles point, Denver had to play strong at singles to take the match and that is just what the Pioneers did. At No. 2 singles, freshman Barbara Kourim (Dallas, Texas) started things off with a straight-set victory over AFA's Heather Shelby (6-1, 6-2). On the fifth court, junior Rossi Thomas (W. Vancouver, B.C.) topped Gina Black, 6-3, 6-4, followed by a win at No. 6 singles by junior Maru Altamirano (Chula Vista, Calif.), who defeated Kristen Jones 7-5, 6-4. Denver lost at No. 1 and No. 3 singles as the match came down to freshman Elizabeth Matthews (Jackson, Tenn.) and Falcons' Kelli O'Bryant on the fourth court. O'Bryant took the first set, 4-6, but Matthews came back strong to win the next two sets, 6-3 and 6-1, securing the victory.

Denver (3-2) will return to the courts next weekend with three matches in Las Cruces, New Mexico, Feb. 22-24. The Pioneers will face New Mexico State (Feb. 22 at 1:30 p.m.), Arkansas State (Feb. 23 at 9 a.m.) and Arkansas-Little Rock (Feb. 24 at 10 a.m.) in three Sun Belt Conference matches to open league play.

RESULTS
Singles
#1 - Brooke Parsons (AFA) def. Yanick Dullens, 6-2, 6-4
#2 - Barbara Kourim (DEN) def. Heather Shelby, 6-1, 6-2
#3 - Laura Nigro (AFA) def. Stephanie Ginsburg, 6-0, 2-6, 7-5
#4 - Elizabeth Matthews (DEN) def. Kelli O'Bryant, 4-6, 6-3, 6-1
#5 - Rossi Thomas (DEN) def. Gina Black, 6-3, 6-4
#6 - Maru Altamirano (DEN) def. Kristen Jones, 7-5, 6-4

Doubles
#1 - Parsons/L. Nigro (AFA) def. Dullens/Kourim, 8-6
#2 - Shelby/Black (AFA) def. Thomas/Beth Messaros, 8-2
#3 - Ginsburg/Matthews (DEN) def. O'Bryant/Gee, 9-7