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Oct. 1, 2008

New Orleans - The Tulane Green Wave women's team returned from its three-year hiatus with a strong showing at the Roberta Alison Fall Classic this past weekend in Tuscaloosa, Ala. The Wave women's notched wins in 60 percent of their singles and doubles matches, and brought home a doubles title as well.

Tulane first-year head coach Terri Sisk fielded a team consisting entirely of freshmen during her inaugural match as the TU skipper. Sisk's squad gave Green Wave fans a glimpse of the future, capturing 11 of 18 matches. The doubles duo of Jessica Lange and Sharon Siegel won three straight doubles matches en route to the title in the Silver Draw. Lange and Siegel overtook Charlotte's tandem of Candace Cunningham and Kimber Redfern, 8-5. In singles, Siegel and Caroline Gerber each finished with three wins apiece to lead the Green Wave.

"Overall we experienced a great deal of success on the weekend," Sisk said. "Going to the tournament, I think some of the girls were disappointed that three of our key players weren't able to make the trip and of course that worries any coach. But the way they rallied and really gave 100 percent on every match was just plain impressive. Marcela pulled her groin the first day so she was forced to sit out the rest of the tournament but Caroline, Lindsay, Jessica and Sharon really represented Tulane well."

Tulane returns to action at the ITA Regionals, Oct 24-26, in Fort Worth, Texas.

"Playing against three SEC opponents and other conference powerhouses was quite intimidating to five freshmen girls, but to see them hanging with and then defeating some of these teams that had lots of experienced upperclassmen was very exciting. Winning 11 of 18 matches with all true freshmen speaks volumes about what lies ahead for this team. On the flip side of the actual tennis we played this weekend, watching the girls bond, laugh and cheer for each other was just heartwarming. They truly are already a family and that is the real reason we will be successful," Sisk said.

On Lindsay Dvorak: "Lindsay had a tough draw. She met up with a very talented girl from Alabama. She definitely had an opportunity to win but then lost in three sets. We just chalked that up to experience. She rebounded and played very tough tennis and defeated a junior who transferred to Samford and really showed a side of her tennis that would make any coach in the country proud. She is very coachable and that alone will make her very successful in collegiate tennis."

On Caroline Gerber: "Caroline is a tough competitor. There aren't many people who match her focus on the court. She played really well this weekend even with a very sore shoulder and defeated two talented players. Caroline understands tennis really well and grasps the idea of knowing how to win, which is an incredible tool to have. Her next four years will definitely be impressive."

On Jessica Lange: "Jessica is going to be a very explosive player. As a coach, I see it more and more everyday in her. She has the tools to hit with anyone and she had two really nice wins this weekend. We have been working on her serve technically so when that falls in place, she will definitely be an impact player. She and Sharon brought home the championship in their doubles draw, our first since 2005. That felt really nice to see two freshmen win a division of upperclassmen."

On Sharon Siegel: "Sharon has a big game, when she believes in herself. She beat a player from Mississippi State this weekend and it seemed to stir her confidence and then went on to win her singles on Sunday against a transfer from a nationally ranked program. She went 5-1 on the weekend and honestly, that is unheard of in this type of tournament as a freshman. You can definitely expect to see great things out of her over the next four years."

Friday's Results
Doubles
Gold Draw
First Round
Wiseman/Brown (UM) def. Dvorack/Gerber (TU) 8-4
Second Round
Back Draw
Kirven/Hartmann (SAM) def. Dvorack/Gerber (TU) 9-7 (3)
Final Round
Back Draw Consolation: Ottosen/Alvarez (MUR) def. Dvorak/Gerber (TU) 8-4
Silver Draw
First Round
Lange/Siegel (TU) def. Toulch/Irvin (UM) 8-4
Jones/Fonseca (TU) def. Webb/Pierson (MUR) 8-6
Second Round
Front Draw
Lange/Siegel (TU) def. Diamond/Niszl (SAM) 9-8 (7-3)
Cunningham/Redfern (UNCC) def. Jones/Fonseca (TU) 4-5, def. inj.
Final Round
Championship: Lange/Siegel (TU) def. Cunningham/Redfern (UNCC) 8-5
Singles
Gold Draw
First Round
Alice Tunaru (UA) def. Lindsay Dvorak (TU) 2-6, 6-3, 6-0
Second Round
Back Draw
Lindsay Dvorak (TU) def. Stephanie Parkinson (SAM) 6-3, 6-0
Final Round
Back Draw
Cassidy Cunitz (MUR) def. Lindsay Dvorak (TU) 7-6 (13-11), 6-1
Blue Draw
First Round
Lyndsay Ottosen (MUR) def. Marcela Fonseca (TU) def. inj.
Green Draw
First Round
Jessica Lange (TU) def. Karen Niszl (SAM) 3-6, 6-2, 6-4
Caroline Gerber (TU) def. Dara Toulch (UM) 6-0, 4-6, 6-3
Second Round
Front Draw
Caroline Lilley (UK) def. Jessica Lange (TU) 6-1, 6-1
Caroline Gerber (TU) def. Katelyn Fulcher (MUR) 6-2, 6-1
Final Round
Front Draw
Caroline Lilley (UK) def. Caroline Gerber (TU) 6-4, 6-0
Jessica Lange (TU) def. Katelyn Fulcher (MUR) 6-3, 6-3
Yellow Draw
First Round
Robyn Jones (UM) def. Sharon Siegel (TU) 7-6(7-5), 6-1
Second Round
Back Draw
Sharon Siegel (TU) def. Jordan Zachary (MSU) 1-6, 6-2 (10-8)
Saturday's Results
Singles Results
Lindsay Dvorak (Tulane) def. Stephanie Parkinson (Samford) 6-3, 6-0
Caroline Lilley (Kentucky) def. Jessica Lange (Tulane) 6-1, 6-1
Caroline Gerber (Tulane) def. Katelyn Fulcher (Murray State) 6-2, 6-1
Sharon Siegel (Tulane) def. Jordan Zachary (Mississippi State) 1-6, 6-2 (10-8)
Doubles Results
Lange/Siegel (Tulane) def. Cunningham/Redfern (Charlotte) 8-5
Ottosen/Alvarez (Murray) def. Dvorak/Gerber (Tulane) 8-4
Sunday's Results
Singles Results
Jessica Lange (Tulane) def. Katelyn Fulcher (Murray State) 6-3, 6-3
Sharon Siegel (Tulane) def. Shannon Hartmann (Samford) 6-1, 6-4
Cassidy Cunitz (Murray State) def. Lindsay Dvorak (Tulane) 7-6 (13-11), 6-1
Caroline Lilley (Kentucky) def. Caroline Gerber (Tulane) 6-4, 6-0

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