College of Charleston 7, Western Carolina 0
CULLOWHEE, N.C. - For the second-straight year, the College of Charleston women's tennis team claimed the Southern Conference regular-season title outright with another undefeated 10-0 season in the record books behind a 7-0 rout of Western Carolina on Saturday afternoon at the Catamount Athletic Complex.
It was mission accomplished for the Cougars (18-7, 10-0), who returned to the Campbell/ITA Collegiate Tennis Rankings as the No. 71-ranked team in the country this week. Despite a two-hour weather delay, they adapted and played solid throughout the singles and doubles lineup against the short-handed Catamounts (2-14, 1-9).
Senior Emma Hayman and junior Katie Lee led the way in doubles with an 8-2 victory over WCU's Carolina Lainez and Ainhoa Iglesias Díaz at the No. 1 line followed by freshman Jamie Harrell and sophomore Olivia McMillan with an 8-5 decision at No. 2. Freshman Kelly Kambourelis and senior Keely Mulligan won by default with a walkover at No. 3.
In singles play, all five of the matches were decided in straight sets, while one was a walkover as the Catamounts had only five players available for competition. Junior Caroline Newman and Kambourelis won their 11 consecutive dual match as Newman defeated Lainez, 6-4, 6-3, at the No. 2 line and Kambourelis held off Karen Jiménez, 6-2, 6-4, at No. 4.
Furman 6, Davidson 1
DAVIDSON, N.C. - The Furman women's tennis team swept the singles matches to conclude the regular season with a 6-1 win at Davidson on Saturday.
The Wildcats jumped out to an early lead after winning two out of three doubles matches to take the doubles point. Stephani Synn and Alison Rauh teamed up for an 8-3 win over seniors Jennifer Betts and Monica Arguello at number two doubles, while Samantha Galainena and Katharine Dicconson beat sophomores Olivia Maurice and Jenny Porter, 8-2, in the third doubles contest. Furman picked up a win in the top doubles match, as freshman Amanda Murray and sophomore Lauren Kline notched an 8-5 win over Brites Moniz-Soares and Nisha Crouser.
The Paladins regrouped to sweep the singles matches for the win. Arguello, ranked 72nd nationally, beat Synn, 7-6, 6-2, in the top singles match, while Kline defeated Rauh, 6-4, 6-3, at number two singles. Freshman Margaret Boyette recorded a 6-1, 6-3 victory over Crouser, and Murray tallied a 6-2, 6-1 win over Moniz-Soares. At number five singles, sophomore Michele Stanford defeated Galainena, 6-1, 6-3, then junior Susan Bitetti completed the sweep with a 6-3, 6-3 victory over Romina Clemente in the sixth singles match.
Chattanooga 5, Appalachian State 2
BOONE, N.C. - The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga women's tennis team ended the 2011 regular season in strong fashion with a 5-2 win at Appalachian State this afternoon. The Lady Mocs improved to 11-10 overall and finish in fifth place in the Southern Conference at 6-4.
The win today secures Chattanooga's first .500 or better season since 2003. The six SoCon wins are UTC's most since going 6-4 in 2004. Chattanooga will next host the 2011 SoCon Tennis Championships at the Champions Club on April 20-24.
UTC opened by taking the doubles point with wins at No. 1 and No. 2. Sophomore Jenna Nurik and Shaina Singh improved to 19-8 as a doubles tandem, winning 8-5 at No. 1.
Sophomore Alexa Flynn kept the momentum going by taking the No. 2 match. She defeated Jennifer Ansari (6-1, 6-4) for her team-leading 18th singles win of the year.
Junior Emily Hangstefer followed that up with a win at No. 3. Nurik lost a No. 1, but Singh clinched the team victory with her win at No. 4. Freshman Diana Zora also posted a win at No. 6.