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2011 SIAC TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 May 1, 2011
OFFICE OF SPORTS INFORMATION
Contact: Dana Harvey, Director
404-880-6685
Lady Panthers Stumble in Regional Tournament
Miami Shores, Fla.-Clark Atlanta University women’s tennis team’s hopes of a regional championship comes to an end as the Lady Panthers fall 5-0 to top-seed Barry College in the first round of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II South Regional Tournament at the Buccaneer Tennis Center Sunday.
The Bucs of Barry College (21-1) swept the doubles matches to quickly go up 3-0 against the Lady Panthers (20-9) and finished the match with singles victories at the No. 3 and No. 4 positions. CAU No. 1 doubles team of Munashe Makuni and Keva Palmer won the team’s only two games in their 8-2 loss to Barbi Pooza and Angie Werschel.
“Despite the loss, I am very proud of what my young team has accomplished,” said first year head coach Autumn Williams.
The Lady Panthers received an automatic bid in the regionals after claiming the 2011 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) women’s tennis championship with a commanding 5-2 victory over Fort Valley State. The Lady Panthers rolled through the SIAC tournament sweeping LeMoyne-Owen and Tuskegee.
Singles Competition
1. Angie Werschel (BU) v. Munashe Makuni (CAU) 4-3 (unfinished)
2. Caroline Wending (BU) v. Keva Palmer (CAU) 5-2 (unfinished)
3. Olivia Matuszak (BU) def. Brionne Bachus (CAU) 6-0, 6-0
4. Mona Mansour (BU) def. Ivory Conley (CAU) 6-0, 6-0
5. Alex Gizdowski (BU) v. Kasey Dawson (CAU) 6-2, 2-0 (unfinished)
6. Julie Stas (BU) v. Cydney Reid (CAU) 6-0, 5-0 (unfinished)
Doubles Competition
1. Barbi Pooza/Angie Werschel (BU) def. Munashe Makuni/Keva Palmer (CAU) 8-2
2. Alex Gwizdowski/Laura Boguet (BU) def. Kasey Dawson/Ivory Conley (CAU) 8-0
3. Julie Stas/Olivia Matuszak (BU) def. Brionne Bachus/Cydney Reid (CAU) 8-0
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April 26, 2011
OFFICE OF SPORTS INFORMATION
Lady Panthers Headed to NCAA Regional Tournament
Indianapolis, IN- The Lady Panthers of Clark Atlanta University earn a No. 8 seed in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) South Regional Women’s Tennis Tournament and will take on top-seed and host Barry University in the first round Sunday, May 1, at the Buccaneer Tennis Center on Barry’s campus in Miami Shores, Florida.
Clark Atlanta received an automatic bid in the tournament after claiming the 2011 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) women’s tennis championship with a commanding 5-2 victory over Fort Valley State. The Lady Panthers rolled through the SIAC tournament sweeping LeMoyne-Owen and Tuskegee.
CAU is led by No.1 doubles duo Munashe Makuni and Keva Palmer who have dropped only one doubles match in their last 21 contests. As singles players in the No. 1 and No. 2 spots, respectively, they have won a combined 43 consecutive matches.
“I am really excited about this opportunity to play for a regional championship and I am so proud of what this team has already accomplished,” said First Year Head Coach Autumn Williams. “We will continue to work hard with winning another championship as our goal.”
This marks the first time in four years that the Lady Panthers will compete in the regional tournament. For complete tournament details, log on to www.ncaa.com.
April 16, 2011
CAU Women’s Tennis Captures SIAC Title!
Atlanta, Ga.-The Lady Panthers of Clark Atlanta University (CAU) claimed the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) women’s tennis title with a 5-2 win over the Lady Wildcats of Fort Valley State University (FVSU) Saturday. The conference title is the first for CAU since the 2007 season.
“We stayed poised and fought all the way through,” said the 2011 SIAC Coach of the Year Autumn Williams. “I am overwhelmed and elated that we made it happen.
The tone of the match was set in doubles play as the Lady Panthers took a 2-1 lead. CAU’s Munashe Makuni and Ivory Conley took the number one doubles match with an 8-3 win over FVSU’s Roberta Robinson and Chelsea Spear. The Lady Wildcats won the number two doubles as the team of Yonelle Aromin and Chade Scott defeated Keva Palmer and Kasey Dawson, 8-6. CAU rallied to take the final doubles match as Cydney Reid and Brioone Bachus beat Chantelle Chiles and Briana Pettiford, 8-4.
After dropping her doubles match, Palmer reflected on her own advice she gave to the team to fight for it and go hard. The lead widened for CAU after the first two singles matches. Makuni defeated Aromin 6-0, 6-0 and Palmer beat Robinson by the same score to give the Lady Panthers a 4-1 edge. The Lady Wildcats drew closer in the third singles match when FVSU’s Scott defeated Conley, 6-2, 6-2. The Lady Panthers claimed the 2011 crown when Brionne Bachus defeated Briana Pettiford, 6-2, 6-1.
“It is an amazing feeling. As a team, we deserved it because we worked really hard,” Makuni added. “We took it to another level.”
Makuni, the 2011 SIAC Player of the Year, received the tournament’s Most Valuable Player honors while Coach Williams was named Coach of the Tournament. Palmer, CAU’s team captain, was also named the to the All-Tournament team in singles and the doubles tandem of Brionne Bachus and Cydney Reid also received All-Tournament honors.
“My team is awesome, my coach is awesome and this feeling is awesome,” Palmer said. “I felt like we really wanted it, didn’t take it for granted and played hard.”
With the win, the Lady Panthers receive an automatic bid to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Regional Tournament May 1-3, at a location to be determined later.
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April 13, 2011
CAU First Year Player and Coach Lead SIAC Honors
Atlanta, GA- Young, talented and setting a standard, the Clark Atlanta University women’s tennis team has been recognized for its outstanding team academic achievements, individual court play and coaching leadership this season by the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.
First year player Munashe Makuni, a junior from Masvingo, Zimbabwe, was named the SIAC 2011 Women’s Tennis Player of the Year. Makuni has won a staggering 20 consecutive singles matches while dropping only 5 of 43 sets the entire season. She has outscored her opponents 222 games to 66 games and finished undefeated in conference play with 12 wins.
“Munashe is the most focused and dedicated player I have ever seen in my tennis career,” Head Coach Autumn Williams added. “She is a great team leader who shows a tremendous amount of maturity and poise on the court and raises the level of play and commitment of her teammates.”
Williams, who won three SIAC championships as a student-athlete at CAU, was named the SIAC 2011 Coach of the Year. In her first season, she has guided the Lady Panthers to an 11-2 conference record and 16 wins over all. As a team, CAU has won 7 of its last 9 matches which include a 6-1 finished in the second SIAC Round-up series.
“Winning this award is completely unexpected and it came from the work of my team who put forth the effort on the court to win matches,” Williams said. “We are a young team that has developed into a solid contender for the SIAC championship. This year has been a huge learning experience for me, and I am truly honored to receive this recognition.”
Joining Makuni as a first team All-Conference selection in singles is team captain Keva Palmer. Palmer, the reigning SIAC Player of Year, also had a tremendous impact on the team’s success with her singles play at the No. 2 position. She won 19 matches in a row and finished the regular season with only two losses which includes an 11-0 stint in conference play.
According to Williams, “Keva approaches every match with a winning attitude, and inspires her teammates to play at their best. She is the best veteran on the team and knows what it takes to win.”
Freshman Brionne Bachus, a native of New Orleans, Louisiana, rounded out Clark Atlanta’s All-Conference selections in singles with her second team honor.
A quiet storm is best way to describe Palmer and Makuni, who as partners, also captured First Team All-Conference honors in the No.1 doubles position. The duo has dropped only one doubles match in their last 21 contests.
As a team, CAU women’s tennis received the 2011 SIAC Academic Team award for having the highest cumulative team grade point average (3.59) among the other conference women’s tennis teams. This is the university’s second academic team award with the women’s cross-country team being the first to receive this honor in 2010. Bachus, an accounting major with a 3.80 GPA, was also named to the women’s tennis All-Academic team.
“I am very proud of what my players as team have been able to accomplish academically,” Williams noted. “They work hard in the classroom and on the court.”
The Lady Panthers will open the first round of the SIAC championship Thursday, April 14, at 3 p.m., against LeMoyne Owen College. The championships will be held at the McGhee Tennis Center on the campus of Morehouse College.
“Our goal from day one was to win the championship, and this is the time when we have to step up our game to another level,” emphasized Williams.
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Lady Panthers Goes 6-1 in SIAC Play
Atlanta, GA- Doubles teammates Munashe Makuni and Keva Palmer continue to dominate their opponents while leading the Clark Atlanta University women’s tennis team (15-7, 11-2) to six wins and one lost to Tuskegee University in the second Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) round-up tournament April 1-3, in Memphis, Tennessee.
Makuni and Palmer, who are paired at the No. 1 slot in doubles play, dropped only 5 games out of 61 during the round-up including winning five of seven matches in straight sets. On the season, this dynamic doubles duo is undefeated in conference play and has won 19 of their last 20 matches overall.
In the No. 1 sinlges slot, Makuni easily rolled through the round-up tournament going undefeated while winning three matches in straight sets and relinquishing only six games and no sets. Palmer won all four matches including three in straight sets in the No. 2 singles position while Ivory Conley won three of five matches from the No. 4 singles position.
Freshman Brionne Bachus topped Albany State’s Reanah Kellogg (6-3, 7-5) and Fort Valley’s Chantelle Chiles (6-3, 7-5). Bachus and sophomore Cyndey Reid won four of five matches in the No. 3 doubles slot.
As a team, Clark Atlanta has defeated 14 of its last 17 opponents, winning a commanding 88 of 115 matches during this stretch. The Lady Panthers will be in action at home Wednesday, April 6, at 2 p.m., against the University of West Georgia, and their last home game will be Sunday, April 10, in an 11 a.m., match-up against the University of West Alabama.
CAU will compete for the SIAC tennis championship April 14-16, at Morehouse College. For full conference tournament details, visit www.thesiac.com.
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February 24, 2011
Lady Panthers Knock Off Gordon College for First Win
Atlanta, GA- Clark Atlanta University women’s tennis team gets its first win of the season with a convincing 6-1 victory over Gordon College on the road Wednesday.
The Lady Panthers dominated Gordon winning both doubles matches and 64 of 72 games.
In the No. 1 slot, CAU junior Munashe Makuni won in straight sets against Toni Griswold which is her second singles win of the season. The reigning SIAC Player of the Year, Keva Palmer, and freshman, Ivory player, won 6-0 in the first set and dropped only one game in the second match from the second and third-ranked spots, respectively for the Lady Panthers.
It is also the first win for first year head coach Autumn Williams who is a 2004 Clark Atlanta graduate.
CAU will take on the University of Alabama (Huntsville) on the road Saturday before competing in the Morehouse Spring Classic March 4-6.
RESULTS
2/23 Clark Atlanta University defeated Gordon College
Doubles:
Keva Palmer & Munashe Makuni defeated Natalie Kruger & Stephanie Coates
8-1 winner CAU
Kasey Dawson & Ivory Conley defeated Toni Griswold & Courtney Millkin
8-1 Winner CAU
Singles:
Munashe Makuni defeated Toni Griswold 6-0, 6-0 winner CAU
Keva Palmer defeated Courtney Millkin 6-0, 6-1 winner CAU
Kasey Dawson defeated Stephanie Wates 6-1, 6-4 winner CAU
Ivory Conley defeated Natalie Kruger 6-0, 6-1 winner CAU
Cydney Reid loss to Amanda Gray 0-6, 2-6 winner Gordon College
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Clark Atlanta Records a 0-9 decision in Season Opener
Atlanta, GA- The Lady Panthers tennis team falls hard in its season opener on the road against a tough Georgia College and State University team after dropping all nine matches including three in straight sets Wednesday.
First year Head Coach Autumn Williams has her team poised for a run at the SIAC Championship crown with three returning players and three newcomers. This season’s theme is “Think big, dream big and the results will be big,” said Williams.
With these big aspirations, the Lady Panthers will rely on all six players to help them reach their goal. Junior Captain Keva Palmer, the 2010 SIAC Most Valuable Player, returns along with sophomores Kasey Dawson and Cydney Reid. Prairie State University transfer, Munashe Makuni, has raised the level of play and brought a sense of dedication and hard work to the team while fellow newcomer Ivory Conley will consistently wear her opponents down on the court. Freshman Brionne Bachus rounds out the Lady Panthers squad.
CAU will host five home games this season starting with USC-Aiken Tuesday, Feb.8th, at 2 p.m., followed by Gordon College (2/23), AUC Rival Spelman College (3/25), Shorter College (3/27), and the University of West Georgia (4/6). There will be two SIAC round-up tournaments this year that will be held March 18-20 and April 1-3, at locations to be announced at a later date.
The Lady Panthers will participate in the Morehouse Spring Classic March 4-6, before wrapping up its season at the SIAC conference tournament April 14-17, at a location that has not been set yet.
“I truly believe that within the conference, it is our tournament to win and we will try our hardest to make that happen,” said Williams.
CAU will look to bounce back in its first home game Tuesday.
Georgia College & State University def. Clark Atlanta University (9-0) Feb. 2nd
Doubles
1 doubles: Munashe Makuni and Kasey Dawson 0-8
2 doubles: Keva Palmer and Brionne Bachus 3-8
3 doubles: Ivory Conley and Cydney Reid lost 0-8
Singles
1 Singles: Munashe Makuni 3-6, 3-6
2 Singles: Keva Palmer 2-6, 1-6
3 Singles: Brionne Bachus 0-6, 1-6
4 Singles: Kasey Dawson 1-6, 0-6
5 Singles: Ivory Conley 1-6, 1-6
6 Singles: Cydney Reid 0-6, 0-6
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