JACKSONVILLE, FL--USC Aiken lost today to 20th ranked Columbus State University, 5-2, in the first round of the 2003 Peach Belt Conference Women's Tennis Championships at the University of North Florida Tennis Complex in Jacksonville, Fla.  The Lady Pacers fall to 5-8 on the season while the Lady Cougars improve to 9-5. 

The Lady Pacers will play again tomorrow in the double elimination tournament.  USC Aiken will play UNC Pembroke beginning at 8:00 a.m.  The Lady Braves defeated USCA, 6-3, on March 16, in Aiken, S.C. 

Both of USCA's wins came in doubles action.  The duo of Maria Claudia Romo and Octavia Bastos defeated CSU's combo of Suzanne Visagie and Marianne Berry, 9-8.  Erika Eles and Dominique Cassetori teamed to down Natasha Stoop and Stacie Faurot, 8-4. 

Columbus State won all four singles matches that were completed and one doubles match to clinch the win.  In three of the singles matches, the Lady Cougars lost just five games.  Cassetori put up the toughest fight.  The freshman lost to Jessica Spencer, 6-3 and 6-3. 

Columbus State defeats USC Aiken 5-2 
Singles: 
#1 Suzanne Visagie (CSU) defeated Maria Claudia Romo (USCA)  6-1, 6-0 
#2 Natasha Stoop (CSU) defeated Nicole Copp (USCA) 6-1, 6-2 
#4 Jessica Spencer (CSU) defeated Dominique Cassetori (USCA) 6-3, 6-3 
#6 Stacie Faurot (CSU) defeated Heather Thornton (USCA) 6-0, 6-1 

Doubles: 
#1 Romo/Octavia Bastos (USCA) defeated Visagie/Marianne Berry (CSU) 9-8 
#2 Erika Eles/Cassetori (USCA) defeated Stoop/Faurot (CSU) 8-4 
#3 Shannon Johnson/Spencer (CSU) defeated Copp/Thornton (USCA) 8-2