JACKSONVILLE, Fla.—USC Aiken's women's tennis team claimed ninth place at the 2003 Peach Belt Conference Championships by defeating UNC Pembroke, 5-2, and Augusta State University, 5-4, today at the University of North Florida Tennis Complex in Jacksonville, Fla.  The Lady Pacers, the eleventh seeded team, finish 2003 with a 7-8 record.  The Lady Braves, seeded tenth, fall to 9-14 and ninth seeded ASU moves to 10-12. 
 
The two victories today marked the first all season for USCA against PBC teams. 
  
USC Aiken won two of three doubles matches and three of the four completed singles matches to claim the victory against UNC Pembroke.  Erika Eles, playing in the number three singles match, posted a straight set win over Erin Saltzman, 6-4 and 6-2.  Dominique Cassetori won in three sets, 4-6, 6-2 and 6-2, over Abi French in the number four singles match.  Otavia Bastos defeated Lauren Losoncy in the number five singles match 6-2 and 6-3.  In doubles action, the teams of Cassetori and Eles, and Nicole Copp and Heather Thornton each won by 8-3 scores. 
  
USC Aiken won just two of six singles matches against Augusta State, but the Lady Pacers swept the three doubles matches to take the win.  Cassetori and Bastos claimed the two singles wins. Bastos and Maria Claudia Romo teamed to beat Patricia Zurita and Hayley Bakker, 8-6, in the number one doubles match.  Cassetori and Eles won 8-6 in the number two doubles match and Coppand Thornton took the number three doubles match, 8-2.

USC Aiken defeats UNC Pembroke 5-2
Singles: 
#2  Naomi Ellis (UNCP) defeats Nicole Copp (USCA) 6-4, 6-2 
#3  Erika Eles (USCA) defeats Erin Saltzman (UNCP) 6-4, 6-2 
#4  Dominique Cassetori (USCA) defeats Abi French (UNCP) 4-6, 6-2, 6-4 
#5  Otavia Bastos (USCA) defeats Lauren Losoncy (UNCP) 6-2, 6-3
Doubles: 
#1  Ellis/Andrea Vukcevic (UNCP) defeats Bastos/Maria Claudia Romo (USCA) 8-5 
#2  Cassetori/Eles (USCA) defeats French/Saltzman (UNCP) 8-3 
#3  Copp/Heather Thornton (USCA) defeats Shannon Gentry/Losoncy (UNCP) 8-3
Records: 
USC Aiken 6-8, UNC Pembroke 9-14 

USC Aiken defeats Augusta State 5-4
Singles: 
#1  Ana Skafar (ASU) defeats Maria Claudia Romo (USCA) 6-2, 6-3 
#2  Patricia Zurita (ASU) defeats Nicole Copp (USCA) 6-3, 6-3 
#3  Hayley Bakker (ASU) defeats Erika Eles (USCA) 7-6, 7-5 
#4  Dominique Cassetori (USCA) defeats Melissa Bruzzee (ASU) 6-2, 6-2 
#5  Otavia Bastos (USCA) defeats Patricia Lozano (ASU) 3-6, 6-2, 6-4 
#6  Janie Toole (ASU) defeats Heather Thornton (USCA) 2-6, 6-4, 7-5
Doubles: 
#1  Bastos/ Romo (USCA) defeats Zurita/Bakker (ASU) 8-6 
#2  Cassetori/Eles (USCA) defeats Skafar/Lozano (ASU) 8-6 
#3  Copp/Thornton (USCA) defeats Bruzzee/Toole (ASU) 8-2
Records: 
USC Aiken 7-8, Augusta State 10-12

Records: 
USC Aiken 5-8, Columbus State 9-5