April 22, 2007

CSTV HIGHLIGHTS

Box Score

TULSA, Okla. - The University of Tulsa's women's tennis team (21-4) topped an outstanding run in the 2007 Conference USA Women's Tennis Championship with a 4-0 defeat of Marshall to claim the program's first ever conference championship.

TU, the tournament's host and top seed, cut through the conference tournament in impressive fashion, outscoring it's opponents 12-1 over three matches.

Today's championship match was moved indoors at the Michael D. Case Tennis Center to escape strong winds.

The No. 44-ranked Hurricane opened the day by winning a hotly contested doubles point, with the duo of Kindsay Grimes and Carla Zabaleta clinching the point with an 8-5 win at the number one position over Marshall's Kellie Schmitt and Lynzee Kever. The teams split at the other two doubles, with Tulsa coming out ahead at the two position on the strength of an 8-3 win over the Herd's Karolina Soor and Thaddea Lock.

TU picked up steam in the singles phase, with Thalia Diaz-Barriga cruising to a 6-1, 6-1 win over Kever on court four to spot the Hurricane a 2-0 lead.

Carla Zabaleta added to the Tulsa lead with a 6-0, 6-2 win over Yulia Kashelkina at No. 3.

In fitting fashion, senior and co-captain Delport clinched the championship with a 7-6 (4), 6-3 win over Soor on court two.

Delport was extremely excited following the victory.

"It was amazing," Delport said. "I'm speechless actually. It was a team effort. There isn't one person we could do this without. The whole team came together so well in the end and I'm so thankful for such an amazing team and coaches."

"The girls are so excited," Said Tulsa head coach Dean Orford. "We're all excited to get the first conference championship. Now were going to have to reload and reset for the NCAA Championships starting in a couple of weeks."

Tulsa's next action will be determined after the draw for the 2007 NCAA Championship is set. That announcement will come on Tuesday, May 1 between 1:30 p.m. and 2 p.m. and will be broadcast on ESPNews.

Marshall finished its season at 16-12 and was playing in its sixth women's tennis conference championship, its first as a member of C-USA.