April 10, 2008

Final Stats | Photo Gallery

SPARTANBURG, S.C. - They say you'll always remember your first time. Well, if that's the case, the USC Upstate women's tennis team will have a barrelful of memories, thanks to its 7-0 win over Campbell in Atlantic Sun Conference action on Thursday at the USC Upstate Tennis Complex. The Spartans clinched the Atlantic Sun Conference regular season title with the win, finishing the year 17-3 overall and a perfect 11-0 in the Atlantic Sun, claiming the school's first A-Sun title in its first year in the conference and the women's tennis program's first regular-season title in school history.

"I knew we were going to be tough this season, but I didn't know we were going to go undefeated," Upstate head coach Alessandro De Marzo said. "I didn't even dream about it. It's really exciting. For our team, the hard work paid off."

Campbell, which finishes the regular season 15-7 overall and 6-5 in the A-Sun, is the No. 4 seed entering the A-Sun Tournament, which begins March 18 at ETSU. Upstate is not eligible for the tournament because it is the school's first year competing in Division I and will not be eligible for the postseason until the 2011-12 school year.

The Spartans earned the doubles point with two doubles wins, as junior Daniela Lovera (Caracas, Venezuela/Santa Rosa Lima) and senior Susana Hernandez (Cali, Colombia/Colegio Americano) wrapped up an 8-0 decision against Ana and Nina Surviladze at the No. 2 slot. Junior Anna Novo (Caracas, Venezuela/El-Angel) and freshman Emilia Milovanovic (Paris, France/CNED) added an 8-0 win over Scarlett Alfonzo and Blanca Saenz at No. 1 doubles.

Upstate kept the momentum going in singles play, as Novo downed Alfonzo, 6-0, 6-1, at No. 1 singles. Lovera added a 6-2, 6-1 win over Ana Surviladze at No. 4 and senior Maria Herrera (Buenos Aires, Argentina) added the clinching point with a 6-0, 6-0 win over Tanya Ahuja at No. 6 singles.

The Spartans rounded out the match with Hernandez defeating Saenz, 6-3, 6-0, at No. 2 singles and senior Diana Martinez (Medellin, Colombia/Nuestra Senora del Rosario) defeating Nina Surviladze at No. 5 singles, 6-1, 7-6 (2). Milovanovic won in a super tiebreak at No. 3 singles against Liza Bensimon, 6-3, 6-7, 10-4.

"Most of them have been together for three years," De Marzo said. "We only have one freshman and that makes a big difference. They know each other pretty well, and that helps a lot on the court."

Novo finished the season with a 29-5 record and a perfect 11-0 mark at No. 1 singles in A-Sun play. She also added a 23-7 mark in No. 1 doubles with Molovanovic. Both her 29 singles wins and 52 combined wins are school records.

Milovanovic finished the year with a 13-18 singles mark to go with 23 doubles wins for 36 combined wins, which broke the freshman record for combined wins at Upstate.

The team also graduates three seniors who all have posted memorable careers in Hernandez, Herrera and Martinez.

Hernandez finished with a 20-9 singles record this season and a 62-24 record overall, which is third in school history. She finished her career with a 63-24 doubles mark and her 125 combined wins is second in school history.

Herrera finishes her career with a 45-17 singles record, which is eighth in school history, and a 51-22 doubles record, which is third. Her 96 career combined wins are tied for fourth.

Martinez finishes her career, which included CoSIDA Academic All-American honors last season, as the school's all-time leader in singles wins (73), doubles wins (64) and combined wins (137). She finished this season at 20-6 in singles play, marking her second straight year with 20 wins.

De Marzo is now 67-21 in four years in charge of the women's program, having led the team to three NCAA Division II Tournament selections and an appearance in the Round of 16 in 2007.

Women's Tennis Matches
USC Upstate 7, Campbell 0
 Singles competition
1. Anna Novo (UPST) def. Scarlett Alfonzo (CAM) 6-0, 6-1
2. Susana Hernandez (UPST) def. Blanca Saenz (CAM) 6-3, 6-0
3. Emilia Milovanovic (UPST) def. Liza Bensimon (CAM) 6-3, 6-7, 10-4
4. Daniela Lovera (UPST) def. Ana Surviladze (CAM) 6-2, 6-1
5. Diana Martinez (UPST) def. Nina Surviladze (CAM) 6-1, 7-6 (7-2)
6. Maria Herrera (UPST) def. Tanya Ahuja (CAM) 6-0, 6-0
 Doubles competition 
1. Anna Novo/Emilia Milovanovic (UPST) def. Scarlett Alfonzo/Blanca
Saenz (CAM) 8-0
2. Daniela Lovera/Susana Hernandez (UPST) def. Ana Surviladze/
Nina Surviladze (CAM) 8-0
3. Cristina Garcia/Liza Bensimon (CAM) def. Diana Martinez/
Maria Herrera (UPST) 8-7 (7-4)
Match Notes:
Campbell 15-7, 6-5 A-Sun
USC Upstate 17-3, 11-0 A-Sun
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1,3); Singles (1,4,6,2,5,3)
T-2:50  A-345