BURNS, LEONCHUK NOT ENOUGH FOR VCU
4-11-09

NORFOLK, Va. – Sophomore Laura Burns (pictured, above) won her team-leading 21st match, but Virginia Commonwealth University fell to South Alabama Saturday, 5-2.

VCU has lost two straight to slip to 16-8. South Alabama is 12-3.

Burns improved her singles record to 21-5 this season when she rolled past Michaela Babicova, 6-4, 6-2 on the No. 2 court. Burns is 18-5 this year in dual matches.

In addition, junior Olena Leonchuk (pictured, right) became the third Ram to win 20 singles matches this year when she picked up a 6-4, 6-3 victory over Parija Maloo at the No. 4 position. Leonchuk is 20-3 overall and has won 14 consecutive matches.

VCU will return to action April 16-19 when it participates in the 2009 CAA Championships in Norfolk, Va. Pairings for the tournament will be released later this week.

South Alabama 5, VCU 2
April 11, 2009 (Norfolk, Va.)
Doubles
1. Michaela Babicova/Sylvanie Spangenberg (USA) def. Ana Bara/Laura Burns, 8-3
2. Erica Krisan/Katie Welch (USA) def. Alex Bara/Olena Leonchuk, 8-6
3. Parija Maloo/Alina Volman (USA) def. Mihaela Bunea/Lisa Dyke, 8-1
Order of finish: 1,3,2
Singles
1. Erica Krisan (USA) def. Ana Bara, 6-4, 3-6, 6-4
2. Laura Burns (VCU) def. Michaela Babicova, 6-4, 6-2
3. Katie Welch (USA) def. Alex Bara, 6-2, 4-6, 7-6 (3)
4. Olena Leonchuk (VCU) def. Parija Maloo, 6-4, 6-3
5. Sylvanie Spangenberg (USA) def. Mihaela Bunea, 6-0, 3-6, 6-3
6. Alina Volman (USA) def. Lisa Dyke, 6-1, 6-0
Order of finish: 6,2,4,5,3,1

Records:
VCU 16-8; South Alabama 12-3