MORROW, Ga.--USC Aiken, ranked 25th in NCAA Division II, fell to 28th ranked Clayton College & State University, 5-4, today in a match-up of Peach Belt Conference women's tennis teams in Morrow, Ga. The win improves the Lakers to 10-7 on the season and evens their record to 5-5 in the PBC. The Lady Pacers drop to 14-8 on the year and 4-5 in league play. 

Elena Bondari lifted CCSU to the team victory by battling from a set down to win her match at number three singles. After falling 6-1 in the first set, Bondari won the second set 7-5, and took the third 6-4 to defeat USCA's Mayra Kaefer. 

USCA took a 2-1 early lead in the match, edging the Lakers at number two and number three doubles. The Lady Pacers' Dominique Cassetori and Elly Toth won 8-6 over Daniela Petkova and Lila Tzvetanova at the second seed. USCA's Otavia Bastos and Nicole Copp also prevailed 8-6 over Bondari and Katrin Gutknecht at the third seed. 

In singles, Julia Gandia, the number nine ranked singles player in NCAA Division II, won in easy fashion, blanking Cassetori 6-0 and 6-0. At number two singles, Julia Chergova, ranked number 44, won 6-4 and 6-0 over Copp, while Gutknecht cruised 6-1 and 6-1 at the fourth seed over Kerry Donovan. 

After losing the first set 6-4 and trailing in the second 5-1, Bastos rallied to beat Clayton State's Petkova 4-6, 7-5 and 6-0. Toth easily dispatched Maria Mancha, 6-1 and 6-0, at number six singles.

The Lady Pacers will conclude their 2005 regular season on Monday when they host Georgia College & State University at the USCA Tennis Complex. The action will begin at 3:00 p.m.
Tennis Match Results
USC Aiken vs Clayton College & State Univ.
Apr 10, 2005 at Morrow, Ga.

#28 Clayton College & State Univ. 5, #25 USC Aiken 4
Singles competition:
1. #9 Julia Gandia (CCSU) def. Dominique Cassetori (USCA) 6-0, 6-0
2. #44 Julia Chergova (CCSU) def. Nicole Copp (USCA) 6-4, 6-0
3. Elena Bondari (CCSU) def. Mayra Kaefer (USCA) 1-6, 7-6, 6-4
4. Katrin Gutknecht (CCSU) def. Kerry Donovan (USCA) 6-1, 6-1
5. Otavia Bastos (USCA) def. Daniela Petkova (CCSU) 4-6, 7-5, 6-0
6. Elly Toth (USCA) def. Maria del Mar Mancha (CCSU) 6-1, 6-0

Doubles competition:
1. Julia Chergova/Julia Gandia (CCSU) def. Kerry Donovan/Mayra Kaefer (USCA) 8-0
2. Dominique Cassetori/Elly Toth (USCA) def. Daniela Petkova/Lila Tzvetanova (CCSU) 8-6
3. Otavia Bastos/Nicole Copp (USCA) def. Elena Bondari/Katrin Gutknecht (CCSU) 8-6

Match Notes:
USC Aiken 14-8 (4-5 PBC); National ranking #25; Regional ranking #7
Clayton College & State Univ. 10-7 (5-5 PBC); National ranking #28; Regional ranking #8