Jan. 30, 2005

IOWA CITY, IA - The 45th-ranked University of Denver women's tennis team improved its record to 2-1 with a hard fought 5-2 win over 43rd-ranked Iowa this afternoon in Iowa City.

Denver won the doubles point and four singles win to claim its first victory over a ranked opponent this season. The Pioneers earned the doubles point after wins from Barbara Kourim (Dallas, Texas) and Jenny Trettin at No. 2 and Rachel Sackmaster (Alpharetta, Ga.) and Marisa Mechem (Fredericksburg, Texas) at No. 3.

Yanick Dullens (Susteren, Netherlands) defeated Iowa's Meg Racette 7-6 (8-6) and 6-4 at No. 1 singles. The No. 1 singles match was a battle between two ranked players. Dullens is 98th, while Racette is 103rd. Jenny Trettin (Berlin, Germany) made her spring debut with a solid 6-2, 6-0 win at No. 4. Also winning singles matches for Denver were Sackmaster (No. 5) and Mechem (No. 6). Sackmaster needed three sets, while Mechem won 13-11 in a super tiebreaker.

"We played great today," head coach Dana Young said. "We were much more aggressive. Our team was really focused and we moved really well. We practiced all week on doubles and played a great match."

Iowa's Hillary Mintz and Meg Racette upset the 30th-ranked doubles of Dullens and Suzana Maksovic, 9-8 (7-5), at the No. 1 position.

The Pioneers host New Mexico State on Friday, Feb. 11 at Meadow Creek in Lakewood, Colo.

#45 Denver 5, #43 Iowa 2

Singles:

1) (98) Yanick Dullens (DU) def. (103) Meg Racette (Iowa) 7-6 (8-6), 6-4

2) Hillary Mintz (Iowa) def. Suzana Maksovic (DU) 2-6, 7-6, 6-1

3) Anastasia Zhukova (Iowa) def. Barbara Kourim (DU) 6-0, 6-3

4) Jenny Trettin (DU) def. Milaca Veselinovic (Iowa) 6-2, 6-0

5) Rachel Sackmaster (DU) def. Hillary Tyler (Iowa) 6-1, 4-6, 6-3

6) Marisa Mechem (DU) def. Jacqueline Lee (Iowa) 4-6, 6-4, (13-11)

Doubles:

1) (55) Racette / Mintz (Iowa) def. (30) Dullens / Maksovic (DU) 9-8 (7-5)

2) Kourim / Trettin (DU) def. Zhukova / Lee (Iowa) 8-2

3) Sackmaster / Mechem (DU) def. Veselinovic / Tyler (Iowa) 8-5