For Immediate Release: April 8, 2004
Contact: John Hartrick (hartrick@binghamton.edu)
Phone: 607-777-6800

Bearcats defeat Stony Brook 4-3 for first win of spring

BURLINGTON, Vt. - Buoyed by the play of freshman Melis Altinay (Antalya, Turkey), Binghatmon (1-10) edged America East rival Stony Brook 4-3 in a women's tennis match played indoors at Vermont Thursday afternoon. Altinay won at singles and doubles to propell the Bearcats to their first win of the spring season.

Playing singles first, Altinay scored her fifth straight win at No. 1 - a 6-0, 4-6, 6-2 triumph. She raised her team-best overall record to 13-7, including 7-3 in duals. Senior Janine Sadaka (Great Neck, N.Y.) also rolled to a 6-2, 6-0 win at No. 3, and the Bearcats received a forfeit win at sixth singles to complete singles play tied at 3-3.

In doubles, the teams split the first two matches complete, with Stony Brook scoring a win at No. 1, and BU taking a forfeit win at No. 3. That set the stage for the match-clinching point at No. 2 doubles, where Altinay and sophomore Sherri Stern (Commack, N.Y.) secured an 8-2 victory to seal the team win.

Binghamton remains in Burlington to face Vermont Friday afternoon.

Binghamton 4, Stony Brook 3

SINGLES
1. Melis Altinay (BU) def. Anne-Catherine Valle (USB), 6-0, 4-6, 6-2
2. Georgia Bushell (USB) def. Lya Kushnirovich (BU)
3. Janine Sadaka (BU) def. Lauren Conching (USB), 6-2, 6-0
4. Victoria Vasile (USB) def. Vera Popova (BU)
5. Olesya Ianowitch (USB) def. Sherri Stern (BU)
6. Lauren Freel (BU) won by forfeit

DOUBLES
1. Bushell/Valle (USB) def. Kushnirovich/Sadaka (BU)
2. AltinayStern (BU) def. Conching/Victoria Vasile (USB), 8-2
3. Popova/Freel (BU) won by forfeit