Women's Tennis Southern Conference

Elon Falls to S.C. State, 4-3

ELON, N.C. - The Elon women's tennis team started off strong against South Carolina State but suffered a tough 4-3 loss Friday afternoon at the Jimmy Powell Tennis Center. The Phoenix won the doubles point but the Bulldogs came back in singles play to take five of the seven matches. South Carolina State improves to 1-1 on the season, while Elon falls to 0-2.

In doubles play, freshmen Frida Jansaker and Bryn Khoury, who played at number two, cruised to a 8-1 victory over SC State's Sarai Torres and I-Chun Chen. At number three, freshman Viviana Stavreva and senior Jessica Margolis played well in their first partnership of the season against Suhaila Jad and Akilah James earning the win, 8-5. Freshman Jordan Johnston and sophomore Briana Berne dropped a heartbreaker to Daria Sekerina and Maria Craciun, 8-7 (2), at the number one position. However, Elon had already secured the doubles point and took a 1-0 lead into singles play.

The Bulldogs were able to even the match after Laura Bosneag defeated junior Kaylyn Smialek at the number six spot, 6-2, 6-2. Johnston won the most decisive victory of the day for the Phoenix, as well as her first match of the season, against Jad, 6-4, 6-1, at the number two position. Craciun earned SC State another point at the number four spot as she defeated Berne, 6-1, 6-3.

Sabrina Mendez gave the Bulldogs its first lead of the afternoon, 3-2, after a 6-2, 6-2 victory over Margolis at number five. Over at number three, Khoury and James played an exciting first set that ended in Khoury's favor, 7-6 (8). In the second set, Khoury was able to keep the momentum going and took the match, 7-6 (8), 6-2, to keep Elon's chance of a victory alive.

At the number one position, Jansaker and Sekerina played a long hard fought match that in the end gave the advantage to Sekerina, 6-2, 7-6 (5), and in turn gave SC State the 4-3 match victory.

Elon is back in action next Saturday, Feb. 5, for two matches at the Jimmy Powell Tennis Center. The Phoenix will take on Meredith beginning at 10 a.m. and then North Carolina A&T at 2:30 p.m.