Elon 6, Western Carolina 1
CULLOWHEE, N.C. - The Elon women's tennis team picked up its first Southern Conference win of the season with a 6-1 victory at Western Carolina today, March 11. After winning the doubles point, the Phoenix went 5-1 in singles play to earn the decisive victory. Elon is now 5-7 (1-2 SoCon) on the year, while Western Carolina falls to 1-6 (0-3 SoCon).
In doubles play, Jordan Johnston and Viviana Stavreva fell in a tight match at number one, 9-8 (5), to the Catamounts' Ainhoa Iglesias Diaz and Carolina Lainez. Frida Jansaker and Bryn Khoury picked up the win on court two over Izabella Glinska and Karen Jimenez, 9-8 (1). At number three, Briana Berne and Andrea Pont Grau earned a win by default to give the Phoenix the doubles point and a 1-0 lead.
All of Elon's wins in singles action came in straight sets over the Catamounts. Johnston defeated Glinska, 6-3, 6-2, at number one, while Khoury earned a win against Lainez at number two by a score of 6-2, 6-1. On court three, Jansaker came out victorious over Diaz 6-2, 6-1.
Stavreva only dropped one game against Katie Barry for a convincing win at number five, 6-1, 6-0. Pont Grau won by default at number six. Western Carolina's lone victory of the afternoon came at number five where Jimenez defeated Berne, 6-2, 6-3.
SMU 5, Furman 2
LAS VEGAS, Nev. - The 35th ranked SMU women's tennis team defeated Furman, 5-2, Friday afternoon in the first of a weekend of matches being held this weekend at the Fertitta Tennis Complex in Las Vegas, Nev.
Sophomores Lauren Kline and Olivia Maurice won singles matches to score for the Paladins. Kline defeated Heather Steinbauer, 6-3, 6-3, in the number three singles spot, while Maurice posted a 6-4, 6-2 win over Kris Roberts at number six singles.
Marta Lesniak defeated Furman senior Monica Arguello, ranked 63rd nationally, 6-2, 6-2 in the top singles match, and Edyta Cieplucha recorded a 6-1, 6-4 victory over Furman rookie Margaret Boyette at number two singles. Shahzoda Hatamova beat Amanda Murray, 6-2, 6-2, in the fourth singles match, and Aleks Malyarchikova defeated Michele Stanford, 6-1, 6-0 at number five singles.
The Mustangs won the doubles point, with the 73rd ranked duo of Lesniak and Malyarchikova defeating Boyette and Murray, 8-1, at number one doubles, and Steinbauer and Cieplucha beating Kline and Stanford, 8-1, in the second doubles match. The Paladins picked up a win in the number three doubles match, as Betts and Arguello combined for an 8-5 win over Hatamova and Roberts.
Furman (4-5, 1-0 SoCon) will face #52 Boise State in Las Vegas Saturday at 1 p.m.