AIKEN, S.C.--USC Aiken's women's tennis team, ranked number 35 in NCAA Division II, picked up its first Peach Belt Conference victory of 2005 by beating Francis Marion, 6-3, on Tuesday at the USC Aiken Tennis Complex in Aiken, S.C. The Lady Pacers improved to 4-2 overall and 1-1 in league play. The Patriots fall to 0-4 and 0-2 in the PBC.

After winning the number two and three doubles matches, USCA went on to win four of six singles matches. Dominique Cassetori at number three singles, Kerry Donovan at number four and Elly Toth at number six all won in straight sets.

Francis Marion's Kamini Murugaboopathy, the 40th ranked singles player in NCAA Division II, played a part in two of the Patriots three victories. Murugaboopathy defeated Nicole Copp (7-5 and 6-0) in number one singles and teamed with Elizabeth Lee to beat Mayra Kaefer and Cassetori in number one doubles, 9-7.

The Lady Pacers will return to action on Saturday when they travel to Kennesaw, Ga., to face Kennesaw State University at 2:00 p.m. 

Tennis Match Results
Francis Marion University vs USC Aiken
Feb 15, 2005 at Aiken, S.C.

#35 USC Aiken 6, Francis Marion University 3
Singles competition:
1. #40 Kamini Murugaboopathy (FMU) def. Nicole Copp (USCA) 7-5, 6-0
2. Jenny Ludwig (FMU) def. Mayra Kaefer (USCA) 6-4, 7-6
3. Dominique Cassetori (USCA) def. Elizabeth Lee (FMU) 6-4, 6-2
4. Kerry Donovan (USCA) def. Maria Covell (FMU) 6-2, 6-2
5. Otavia Bastos (USCA) def. Sara Moyer (FMU) 6-7, 6-3, 10-8
6. Elly Toth (USCA) def. Sarah Carmichael (FMU) 7-5, 6-1

Doubles competition:
1. Kamini Murugaboopathy/Elizabeth Lee (FMU) def. Mayra Kaefer/Dominique Cassetori (USCA) 9-7
2. Otavia Bastos/Nicole Copp (USCA) def. Jenny Ludwig/Sara Moyer (FMU) 8-4
3. Kerry Donovan/Elly Toth (USCA) def. Sarah Carmichael/Maria Covell (FMU) 8-4

Match Notes:
Francis Marion University 0-4 (0-2 PBC); Regional ranking #8
USC Aiken 4-2 (1-1 PBC); National ranking #35; Regional ranking #6