Rangers Cruise in First-Round Matchup

FREDRICKSBURG, Va. (May 14, 2010) – The Rangers only needed to complete their first five matches to move on to the second round of the NCAA Tournament as they shutout Western Connecticut State 5-0 this afternoon. Drew will move on to play Carnegie Mellon tomorrow at 2:00 PM.

The first ever appearance by the Drew University Women's Tennis Team was an overwhelming success. The Rangers swept doubles play for the seventh time this year and earned their third shutout of the 2010 season.

In number one singles Vivian Peng (Piscataway, N.J./Boca Raton Community) kept her undefeated season intact by beating WCSU's Lauran Post 6-1, 6-0. First-team all-conference selection, Michelle Gbelama (Trenton, N.J./Trenton Central), followed suit and sealed the victory with a 6-0, 6-1 win over Brittany Hoynack.

The doubles duo of Sarit Ashkenazi (Kingston, Jamaica/Immaculate Conception) and Hayley Downing (Cliffside Park, N.J./Immaculate Heart Academy) continued their dominance picking up an 8-6 win in number two doubles. Honored by the Landmark Conference earlier in the day, the two picked up their seventh consecutive win in doubles action.

Drew will remain in Fredricksburg, Va. tonight and prepare to take on the 13-7 Tartans of Carnegie Mellon tomorrow afternoon at the Battlegrounds Tennis Complex. Live stats will be available for the match which is slated for 2:00 PM.

Complete NCAA Bracket

Singles competition
1. Vivian Peng (DREW) def. Lauran Post (WCSU) 6-1, 6-0
2. Michelle Gbelama (DREW) def. Brittany Hoynack (WCSU) 6-0, 6-1
3. Alyssa Hoynack (WCSU) vs. Sarit Ashkenazi (DREW) 0-6, 0-3, unfinished
4. Alison Mahony (WCSU) vs. Hayley Downing (DREW) 6-5, unfinished
5. Jenna Kosiba (WCSU) vs. Sophia-ye Chen (DREW) 6-2, 1-0, unfinished
6. Brittany DiMauro (WCSU) vs. Cristine Conde (DREW) 4-5, unfinished

Doubles competition
1. Michelle Gbelama/Vivian Peng (DREW) def. Jenna Kosiba/Lauran Post (WCSU) 8-3
2. Sarit Ashkenazi/Hayley Downing (DREW) def. Brittany Hoynack/Alyssa Hoynack (WCSU) 8-6
3. Sophia-ye Chen/Cristine Conde (DREW) def. Kelly Macey/Deborah Ferreira (WCSU) 8-2