SPARTANBURG, S.C.--USC Aiken, ranked 25th in NCAA Division II, opened the 2005 Peach Belt Conference Championships with a 5-0 victory over 10th seeded UNC Pembroke. The seventh seeded Lady Pacers advanced to round two where they fell to sixth ranked, and second seeded Columbus State, 5-1. USCA falls to the consolation bracket where with two wins can earn a fifth place finish. 

The Lady Pacers (15-10) will face sixth seeded Clayton State (11-8), at 8:00 a.m., on Friday. If they can get by the Lakers, USC Aiken will play for fifth place at 4:30 p.m., on Friday. 

In the first round against UNC Pembroke (11-12), USCA took the quick advantage by winning all three doubles matches. Kerry Donovan and Mayra Kaefer held off Natalie Dies and Stacey Wood at number one doubles by a score of 8-5. Otavia Bastos and Nicole Copp shutout their opponents at number three doubles, 8-0.

When singles play began, the Lady Pacers quickly sealed the match with wins at number two and three singles. Copp lost just one game on her way to a 6-0 and 6-1 win over Erin Saltzman in the two spot. Kaefer took care of Dies, 6-3 and 6-3, in the three spot. The remainder of the singles matches went unfinished since USC Aiken had clinched the match win.

The Lady Pacers were able to keep Columbus State (17-4) from starting too strong. Copp and Bastos upset Suzanne Visagie and Marianne Berry, the 25th ranked doubles tandem in the nation, 9-7, in number three doubles. CSU easily won the other two doubles matches by 8-1 scores.

The Lady Cougars finished off USCA when singles play began. Diana Gherghi, the fourth ranked singles player in NCAA Division II, beat Dominique Cassetori, 6-1 and 6-1, at number one singles. Raluca Moldovan downed Bastos by the same score at number five singles. Visagie, the number 12 singles player in the Mid-Atlantic Region, held off Kaefer at number three singles, 6-3 and 6-2.

Tennis Match Results
UNC Pembroke vs USC Aiken
Apr 14, 2005 at Spartanburg, S.C.
#25 USC Aiken 5, UNC Pembroke 0

Singles competition:
1. Dominique Cassetori (USCA) vs. Stacey Wood (UNCP) unfinished
2. Nicole Copp (USCA) def. Erin Saltzman (UNCP) 6-0, 6-1
3. Mayra Kaefer (USCA) def. Natalie Dies (UNCP) 6-3, 6-3
4. Kerry Donovan (USCA) vs. Jessica Figgins (UNCP) unfinished
5. Otavia Bastos (USCA) vs. Abi French (UNCP) unfinished
6. Elly Toth (USCA) vs. Shannon Gentry (UNCP) unfinished

Doubles competition:
1. Kerry Donovan/Mayra Kaefer (USCA) def. Natalie Dies/Stacey Wood (UNCP) 8-5
2. Dominique Cassetori/Elly Toth (USCA) def. Jessica Figgins/Abi French (UNCP) 8-2
3. Otavia Bastos/Nicole Copp (USCA) def. Shannon Gentry/Erin Saltzman (UNCP) 8-0

Match Notes:
UNC Pembroke 11-12
USC Aiken 15-9; National ranking #25; Regional ranking #7Tennis Match Results

USC Aiken vs Columbus State University
Apr 14, 2005 at Spartanburg, S.C.
#6 Columbus State University 5, #25 USC Aiken 1
Singles competition:
1. #4 Diana Gherghi (CSU) def. Dominique Cassetori (USCA) 6-1, 6-1
2. Zuzana Valekova (CSU) vs. Nicole Copp (USCA) unfinished
3. Suzanne Visagie (CSU) def. Mayra Kaefer (USCA) 6-3, 6-2
4. Agata Polcyn (CSU) vs. Kerry Donovan (USCA) unfinished
5. Raluca Moldovan (CSU) def. Otavia Bastos (USCA) 6-1, 6-1
6. Marianne Berry (CSU) vs. Elly Toth (USCA) unfinished

Doubles competition:
1. #2 Diana Gherghi/Zuzana Valekova (CSU) def. Kerry Donovan/Mayra Kaefer (USCA) 8-1
2. Raluca Moldovan/Agata Polcyn (CSU) def. Dominique Cassetori/Elly Toth (USCA) 8-1
3. Otavia Bastos/Nicole Copp (USCA) def. #25 Marianne Berry/Suzanne Visagie (CSU) 9-7

Match Notes:
USC Aiken 15-10; National ranking #25; Regional ranking #7
Columbus State University 17-4; National ranking #6; Regional ranking #2
2005 Peach Belt Conference Tournament - Second Round
#7 seed USC Aiken vs. #2 seed Columbus State