April 21, 2001

MACON, GA -

Florida Atlantic University (13-10) upset no. 74 Troy State University, 4-1, in the semifinals at the Trans America Athletic Conference Championship Saturday morning in Macon, GA. With the victory, the Lady Owls advance to the championship match for the first time in school history. FAU will take on Campbell University Monday morning at 9:00am. The winner receives an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

The match started off with FAU claiming the doubles point. Maria Aguirre-Gomez and Tania Rivera defeated TSU's Carolina Aravena and Talia Flores 8-6 at no. 1. FAU's Kristen Jordan and Jessica Burrow teamed to defeat Jayne Hutchinson and Sally Linden 8-6 at no. 2.

In singles play, TSU tied the match at 1-1 when Luisa Lopez defeated FAU's Morgan Wade, 6-1, 6-0, at no. 5. That was as close as the Trojans would get as the next three matches went to the Lady Owls. No. 78 Kristen Jordan defeated Carolina Aravena 6-0, 6-1 at no. 1 to give FAU a 2-1 lead. Maria Aguirre-Gomez followed at no. 2 with a 6-2, 6-2 victory over Jayne Hutchinson. Jessica Burrow clinched the match for the Lady Owls with a 6-2, 6-2 victory over Laura Alarcon at no. 6.

"This is a huge win for our program," said FAU associate head coach Caroline Hora. "While it's a tremendous accomplishment to knock off the top-seed and advance, we realize we still have one match to play in order to be TAAC champions"

FAU 4, Troy State 1

Singles

1. Kristen Jordan (FAU) d. Carolina Aravena (TSU) 6-0, 6-1.

2. Maria Aguirre-Gomez (FAU) d. Jayne Hutchinson (TSU) 6-2, 6-2.

3. Tania Rivera (FAU) vs. Sally Linden (TSU), DNF.

4. Stephanie Beaulieu (FAU) vs. Talia Flores (TSU), DNF.

5. Luisa Lopez (TSU) d. Morgan Wade (FAU) 6-1, 6-0.

6. Jessica Burrow (FAU) d. Laura Alarcon (TSU) 6-2, 6-2.

Doubles

1. Aguirre-Gomez/Rivera (FAU) d. Aravena/Flores (TSU) 8-5.

2. Burrow/Jordan (FAU) d. Hutchinson/Linden (TSU) 8-6.

3. Alarcon/Lopez (TSU) d. Beaulieu/Wade (FAU) 8-2.