March 23, 2003

OXFORD, Ohio - The Miami tennis team played its first two matches since returning from its Spring Trip in Florida, posting a 4-3 win at Butler Saturday and losing, 5-2, to local-rival Xavier on Sunday. Senior Ilze Meyer and freshman Maura Trauernicht highlighted the weekend, both sweeping their matches at the No. 5 and No. 6 flights, respectively.

In Saturday's win at Butler, the RedHawks squeaked out a 4-3 win, splitting the six singles matches and winning two of the three doubles contests. The tandems of sophomore Nancy Wiegand and senior Ilze Meyer and sophomore Grace Cascarilla and freshman Maura Trauernicht took the No. 2 and No. 3 matches, respectively, winning both by the score of 8-5. The doubles point was crucial as Cascarilla (7-5, 6-2), Meyer (6-0, 6-0) and Trauernicht (6-2, 6-3) were able to win their matches in singles' play.

Sunday, local rival Xavier pulled out a 5-2 victory over Miami as they took all three doubles matches and the No. 1 through No. 4 singles. Miami was in the match to the end but the Musketeers pulled out two three-set matches against Cascarilla (6-4, 0-6, 6-3) and Nancy Wiegand (6-3, 3-6, 6-2) to steal the win. Meyer (6-2, 6-2) and Trauernicht (6-2, 6-2) provided the RedHawks with their only wins.

The RedHawks, which are now 5-8 overall, return to the courts next weekend and take on MAC foes Buffalo on Friday at 11 a.m. and Akron on Saturday at 1 p.m. Both matches are scheduled for the Riverside Racquet Club in Hamilton, OH.