March 21, 2000

Chicago, Ill. - A dramatic 5-4 win over Tennessee-Chattanooga on St. Patrick's Day sent the UIC women's tennis team home from their spring trip in Orlando, Fla., with confidence as they prepare for the remaining non-conference slate, as well as league games and the 2000 MCC Tournament.

"It was very exciting," Head Coach Mary Dailey said of the match with UTC that came down to the No.3 doubles match. "Alyson (Stalzer) and Kim (Harris) were up early in their match, but then Chattanooga came back and won the last two games to a tie-breaker. It would have been very easy for them to choke, but they really stepped up and won the tiebreaker 7-1. It was really exciting."

The Flames match with the Mocs saw Dailey's crew jump out to a 4-2 advantage, taking four of the six singles matches. Emina Curic (6-4, 6-3/No. 2), Zorica Malesevic (6-3, 7-5/No. 4), Zvjezdana Malesevic (6-4, 6-0/No. 5) and Alyson Stalzer (6-2, 6-2/No. 6) were all straight-set winners.

UTC rallied back by winning the first two doubles matches, setting up Stalzer and Harris for the clutch victory in the No. 3 doubles contest.

Things didn't go as well in the Flames' first two matches of the spring trip as Southern Illinois and Central Florida defeated them.

"The SIU match was a little disappointing," said Dailey. "UCF is just a flat out better team than us. They are in another league."

UIC fell 7-2 to Southern Illinois on March 14, as Zvjezdana Malesevic (6-4, 6-1/No. 5) picked up the Flames' lone singles triumph. Curic and Zorica Malesevic posted UIC's other point as they were 8-5 winners in the No. 2 doubles match.

The Flames were outmatched in the contest with Central Florida on March 15, getting swept 9-0. Alyson Stalzer had a strong singles match in defeat, falling 7-6 (3), 6-1 in the No. 6 singles contest.

The Flames, now 4-11 on the season, are back in action on Saturday, March 25, when they welcome Indiana State to the Oak Park-River Forest Racquet and Fitness Club at 4:00 p.m.

"Indiana State's record is comparable to ours," commented Dailey. "We've played a similar schedule. It will be a good test for us to see how we will fare in conference. Hopefully, my kids will come ready to play."