Oct. 11, 2008

Highlights: Natasa Vuckovic, Ana Marija Zubori & Gira Schofield

EVANSTON, Ill. -- The South Carolina women's tennis team's dominance at the Wildcat Invitational in Evanston, Ill., continued Saturday with the Gamecocks advancing to the finals in three of four singles flights and both doubles draws.

The day began with Natasa Vuckovic and Ana Marija Zubori posting an 8-1 victory against the team of Ghazal/Chernyakova from Northwestern in the A draw. Miljana Jocic and Gira Schofield then defeated Krisik/Mathews from Notre Dame 8-6 to set up an all South Carolina championship match Sunday.

In the B flight of doubles, Suzanna Mansour and Ashley Miller defeat Northwestern's Lee/Robison 8-6 to reach the final. They will face Harutyunyan/Baronayte from Akron for the championship.

Schofield rolled through her first match against Dunja Antunovic from DePaul in the quarterfinals of the A flight, winning 6-1, 6-4. In the semis, she pulled out a 2-6, 6-2, 7-5 triumph over Oklahoma's Ana-Maria Constantinescu.

Thanks to Zubori's two wins in the A draw, it will be an all Gamecock final Sunday. She was a 7-5, 5-7, 6-2 winner over Shannon Mathews of Notre Dame in her first contest and then she upended No. 36-ranked Lauren Lui of Northwestern 6-4, 2-6, 6-0. Zubori, who is ranked No. 54 this fall and holds an 8-1 record, has defeated four players ranked in the top 50 this season.

Vuckovic won impressively against freshman Elena Chernyakova from Northwestern 6-1, 6-3 in the B flight. The International Tennis Federation ranked Chernyakova as high as No. 16 in the world as a junior. Vuckovic needed three sets to defeat Gia McKnight from DePaul 4-6, 6-1, 6-2 in the semifinals. Vuckovic will take on Kali Krisik from Notre Dame in finals.

Miller's first victory of the day in singles came against Wisconsin's Erin Jobe 6-3, 6-4 before defeating Annie McCarthy from Illinois 6-1, 6-4 in the semis. Miller squares off with Angela Chupa from Wisconsin for the flight D title.

Jocic advanced to the semis of flight C win a default victory over Magdalena Wiecha from Minnesota and then fell to DePaul's Selma Salkovic 6-4, 6-2.

Singles Matches
#31 Gira Schofield, USC, def. Dunja Antunovic, DU, 6-1, 6-4 (Flight A)
#31 Gira Schofield, USC, def. #93 Ana-Maria Constantinescu, OU, 2-6, 6-2, 7-5 (Flight A)
#54 Ana Marija Zubori, USC, def. Shannon Mathews, NDU, 7-5, 5-7, 6-2 (Flight A)
#54 Ana Marija Zubori, USC, def. #36 Lauren Lui, NU, 6-4, 2-6, 6-0 (Flight A)
Natasa Vuckovic, USC, def. Elena Chernyakova, NU, 6-1, 6-3 (Flight B)
Natasa Vuckovic, USC, def. Gia McKnight, DU, 4-6, 6-1, 6-2 (Flight B)
Miljana Jocic, USC, def. Magdalena Wiecha, UM, Default (Flight C)
Selma Salkovic, DU, def. Miljana Jocic, USC, 6-4, 6-2 (Flight C)
Ashley Miller, USC, def. Erin Jobe, UW, 6-3, 6-4 (Flight D)
Ashley Miller, USC, def. Annie McCarthy, UI, 6-1, 6-4 (Flight D)

Doubles Matches
Vuckovic/Zubori, USC, def. Ghazal/Chernyakova, NU, 8-1 (Flight A)
Jocic/Schofield, USC, def. Krisik/Mathews, UND, 8-6 (Flight A)
Mansour/Miller, USC, def. Lee/Robison, NU, 8-6 (Flight B)