Furman 7, Samford 0
GREENVILLE, S.C. ? The Furman women’s tennis team began Southern Conference action with a strong statement, defeating the Samford Bulldogs, 7-0, at Mickel Tennis Center on Saturday afternoon. The Lady Paladins (6-6, 1-0) have won eight consecutive regular-season SoCon titles, amassing 89 straight wins against league opponents. The Bulldogs (3-7, 0-2) are a new face in the SoCon, this season being their first year in the league.
Samford was short-handed in the match and was forced to default at number three doubles and number six singles. Furman took the doubles point and held a 1-0 advantage heading into singles play.
Sophomore Monica Arguello won her sixth straigh match this season and remained undefeated against league opponents in her career, defeating Andrei Meiring, 6-1, 6-2, at two singles. Senior Laura Gioia added to the Furman lead with a 6-3, 6-0 win over Taylor Morgan at the top position. Gioia has won seven of her last eight matches. Senior Lauren Tomory, the reigning SoCon Player of the Week, improved to 8-4 on the season with a 6-1, 6-0 win over Beth Erwin at number five. Furman’s Jessica Preeg and Susan Bitetti were also victorious on the afternoon.
College of Charleston 4, UNC Greensboro 3
GREENSBORO, N.C. ? Alejandra Guerra and Lucy Dougherty both extended their winning streaks, but it wasn’t enough as College of Charleston squeaked by UNC Greensboro, 4-3, in Southern Conference women’s tennis action Saturday afternoon.
Guerra won her sixth straight match by downing Laura Borza in straight sets, 6-4 and 6-1. The senior from Tampico, Mexico who is ranked No. 69 in the nation according to the ITA, is now 18-7 on the year. Dougherty, a freshman from Australia, is 12-7 and has won seven straight matches after topping Keely Mulligan in three sets, 6-2, 0-6, 6-4.
However, the Cougars won the other four singles matches, including a three-set win by Anna Lee Evans to put the win away as UNCG dropped its first conference match of the season, falling to 2-1 in league play and 6-3 overall.
Chattanooga 5, Wofford 2
SPARTANBURG, S.C.- The Wofford women’s tennis team was unable to pull out a Southern Conference victory on Saturday as they were downed by the Chattanooga Mocs 5-2 at the Reeves Tennis Center. The Terriers now sit at 2-7 overall and 1-1 in the SoCon while the Mocs improve to 4-8 overall and 1-2 in league play.
In doubles play, Cayley Wetzig and Ashley Lawrence were able to pull at a win on court No. 1 over Van Der Veek and Bossy 8-6. However, the Mocs won on court No. 2 8-1 over Haley Baird and Sabrina Smyers as well as on court No. 3 as Singh and Green downed the Terrier duo of Sonia Anand and Kristin Demosthenes 8-4. With the two doubles wins, the Mocs took the doubles point and a 1-0 lead heading into singles play.
The Terriers continued to fight in singles however, but were unable to prevail as Chattanooga took four of the six singles matches. Playing at number three singles, Baird was able to get a dominating win as she defeated Bossy 6-3, 6-2. Anand was the second and remaining Terriers to pick up a win as she easily defeated Green 6-2, 6-2 on court No. 5. Wetzig and Smyers both played well in tough three set losses on court No. 1 and 4, respectively.