Appalachian State 5, Elon 2
ELON, N.C. ? The Appalachian State University women’s tennis opened its Southern Conference season with a 5-2 victory over Elon, Friday at the Jimmy Powell Tennis Center.
With the win, the Mountaineers snap their two-match losing streak to improve to 5-2 on the season and 1-0 in league play. The Phoenix drop to 6-5 overall and 1-1 in conference play, snapping its winning streak at three matches.
Appalachian took two of the three doubles matches for the doubles point, and four of the six singles matches for the 5-2 win.
Senior Victoria Moody (Irmo, S.C.) improved to 5-1 in singles play on the season, defeating Kelly Fleck, 6-4, 6-1 at No. 2 singles. Moody teamed with classmate Salem Kirven (Greensboro, N.C.) to defeat Whitney Butcher and Alli Benton, 8-2 at No. 3 doubles.
Senior Lyndsey Free (Marietta, Ga.) also picked up two wins on the day, taking down Melissa Holland, 6-3, 2-6, 7-5 at No. 5 singles. Free partnered with junior Anja Gugger (Cary, N.C.) to defeat Holland and Elizabeth Kernodle, 8-4, at No. 2 doubles.
ASU’s other two singles wins came from freshman Monica Tomas (Valado de Frades, Portugal) and sophomore Frances Blanton (Raleigh, N.C.). Tomas defated Butcher, 6-7 (9-7), 7-6 (7-5), 6-1, at No. 4 singles, while Blanton handled Benton, 6-0, 6-3, at No. 6 singles.
The Mountaineers will take six days off before heading to Greensboro, N.C. to take on North Carolina A&T at the Aggie Tennis Complex, Thursday March 16 at 2 p.m.
Appalachian State 5, Elon 2
At the Jimmy Powell Tennis Center, Elon, N.C.
Doubles
1.) Evin Prelec/Kelly Fleck (Elon) d. Frances Blanton/Monica Tomas 8-6
2.) Lyndsey Free/Anja Gugger (ASU) d. Elizabeth Kernodle/Melissa Holland 8-4
3.) Salem Kirven/Victoria Moody (ASU) d. Whitney Butcher and Alli Benton 8-2
Singles
1.) Prelec (Elon) d. Gugger 7-5, 6-4
2.) Moody (ASU) d. Fleck 6-4, 6-1
3.) Kernodle (Elon) d. Kirven 6-2, 6-2
4.) Tomas (ASU) d. Butcher 6-7 (9-7), 7-6 (7-5), 6-1
5.) Free (ASU) d. Holland 6-3, 2-6, 7-5
6.) Blanton (ASU) d. Benton 6-0, 6-3
Officials: Justin Willis, Karen King
Records: Appalachian State 5-2 (1-0 SoCon), Elon 6-5 (1-1 SoCon)