College of Charleston 5, Elon 2
MT. PLEASANT, S.C. - The Elon women's tennis team suffered its first Southern Conference loss of the season in a 5-2 decision to the host College of Charleston Cougars on Wednesday afternoon at the Tennis Center at Patriots Point. The loss also snapped an eight-match winning streak as the Phoenix fell to 13-4 on the season and 4-1 in league action. CofC improved to 14-8 and remained atop the conference standings at 7-0.
Charleston took the early lead after picking up doubles victories on courts two and three. Elon's Anna Milian and Elisa Simonetti continued to be impressive, winning their 12th consecutive match with an 8-5 victory over Kinsey Casey and Irene Viana at number one doubles. The tandem is now 13-2 on the season and a perfect 5-0 against SoCon competition.
The Cougars took straight set victories at number two, five and six singles to secure the team win. Anna Lee Evans posted a 6-0, 6-2 result over Elon's Lauren Sessoms at number five, ending Sessoms' six-match winning streak. On court six, Laura Graybill suffered a 6-3, 6-1 defeat at the hands of Emma Hayman. Caroline Newman clinched the match for the Cougars, defeating Paige Kensrue, 6-1, 6-2, at number two.
CofC's Laura Borza increased the home team's advantage to 5-0 with a 6-3, 6-3 decision against Briana Berne. Milian and Simonetti closed the match on a high note for the Phoenix, winning at number one and three singles. Milian took a 6-7, 6-2, 1-0 (7) victory over Holly Dowse on court one. The senior is 14-2 on the season and has won nine consecutive matches. Simonetti battled out a 6-3, 4-6, 1-0 (8) win against Casey for her eighth straight victory.
Furman 7, Wofford 0
SPARTANBURG, S.C. -- The Furman women's tennis team swept Wofford, 7-0, Wednesday afternoon in Spartanburg. The win marked the Paladins' 100th consecutive Southern Conference regular season win.
The Paladins won all six singles matches and the three doubles matches for the team victory. At number one singles, junior Monica Arguello defeated Sabrina Smyers 6-0, 6-0, while freshman Lauren Kline beat Haley Baird 6-3, 6-1 in the second singles match. Paladin senior Jessica Preeg recorded a 6-1, 6-1 win over Guinn Garcia at number three singles, and freshman Michele Stanford defeated Stephanie Cox 6-3, 6-0 at number four singles. In the fifth singles match, sophomore Susan Bitetti posted a 6-1, 7-6(2) win over Lindsay Larkin. Junior Jennifer Betts rounded out the singles action, with a 6-3, 6-1 win over Lucy Schermerhorn at number six.
In doubles action, Preeg and Kline teamed up for an 8-1 win over Baird and Garcia at number one, while Arguello and Betts defeated Smyers and Schermerhorn 8-1 in the second doubles spot. Stanford combined with freshman Olivia Maurice to beat Larkin and Cox 8-3 in the third doubles match.
Chattanooga 7, Lee University 0
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga women's tennis won all nine matches in a 7-0 sweep of Lee University at the Champions Club today. The Lady Mocs improved to 5-9 on the year after handing the Flames their first loss of the season (4-1).
Today's dual match started with singles play and UTC senior Beata Knizat set the tone for the Lady Mocs. She took 45 minutes to post a 6-0, 6-0 win over Ann Clair Butler at No. 6, snapping a personal three-match losing streak. Chattanooga only gave up 16 games in the six singles matches today.
Freshman Jenna Nurik posted a 6-0, 6-1 win over Kelsey Gray at No. 1 for her fifth consecutive win. She leads the team with a 16-6 record in singles play on the year. Sophomore Charlotte Bossy won her third straight match, 6-2, 6-2 over Emily Orist at No. 5.
Sophomores Emily Hangstefer (No. 2) and Shaina Singh (No. 3) and junior Grace Robinette (No. 4) also posted singles wins today.
Chattanooga took the doubles point for the sixth-straight match, despite mixing up the line-up this afternoon. Singh and Nurik won their sixth-straight doubles contest to improve to 6-1 on the year. Knizat teamed with junior Annie Green for an 8-1 win over Orist and Sara Anic at No. 2.
Senior Kate Ksiezopoloski and sophomore Briana Wishing posted an 8-4 win over Butler and Melissa Grgat at No. 3. It was the first action of the season for Ksiezopoloski.
Chattanooga hosts a pair of Southern Conference foes this weekend. UTC welcomes Wofford on Saturday, March 27, followed by Furman on Sunday. Both matches are set for 10:00 a.m. (E.D.T.) at the UTC Tennis Courts.