College of Charleston 4, Boston University 3
MT. PLEASANT, S.C. - The College of Charleston women's tennis team held off Boston University, 4-3, in a non-conference dual match held Wednesday afternoon at the CofC Tennis Center at Patriots Point.
The win extended the Cougars' (9-4) season-best win streak to five consecutive matches and was an early birthday present for CofC Director of Tennis Angelo Anastopoulo, who celebrated his 45th. The four-time Southern Conference Coach of the Year is currently in his 21st season with the program.
CofC started off the match by dominating the doubles against the 18-time America East Conference champion Terriers (4-6). The sister tandem of senior Caroline Newman and Christin Newman improved to a team-best 6-2 on the season with an 8-5 victory over BU's Vivien Laszloffy and Petra Santini at No. 3 doubles.
Freshman Jenny Falcone and Kelly Kambourelis clinched the doubles point at No. 2 by a count of 8-4 and freshman Samantha Maddox and junior Irene Viana won 8-4 at No. 1.
The Cougars lost four first sets in singles as BU's top player Leonie Athanasiadis defeated Kambourelis, 6-4, 6-4, at the top of the lineup to tie the match at one-all.
It was short-lived as Caroline Newman downed Jessica Linero in straight sets, 6-1, 6-3, at the No. 2 line followed by Maddox in three over Stefanie Nunic, 3-6, 6-0, 6-1, at No. 3. Senior Katie Lee turned in the match clincher against Monika Mical, 6-4, 6-2, to remain an undefeated 7-0 at No. 6 singles.
"Boston University deserves a lot of credit for the fight they put up in singles today," Anastopoulo said. "We played really well in doubles and controlled most of the matches throughout. They really jumped on us early as we lost four first sets, so I knew we would have to win in three sets in order to win the match. Samantha Maddox did a great job of playing a very good player in BU's former No. 1 player, Stefanie Nunic, who has been battling some injuries.
"Overall, our players really fought hard. We had to piece together a team today as we were battling some injuries and illnesses. They did a great job and found a way to squeak that victory out and keep my 45th birthday celebration intact."
UNC Asheville 4, Western Carolina 3
CULLOWHEE, N.C. - Western Carolina's women's tennis team returned from a four-match road swing to win the doubles point against UNC Asheville Wednesday afternoon at the Catamount Athletic Complex, but failed to win more than two singles matches, falling to UNCA, 4-3.
"I was proud of our No. 1 and No. 2 doubles teams," said Head Coach Chris Wollett. "Winning the doubles point allowed us to go into the singles matches with momentum. Unfortunately, we weren't able to sustain the momentum and pick up the win. I was proud of our girls for fighting tough, especially the No. 1 and No. 2 singles for battling through tough, three set matches."
WCU won the doubles point Wednesday for the first time this season - forfeits not included - with the Catamounts winning the No. 1 and No. 2 doubles matches. In the No. 1 match, Ainhoa Iglesias Díaz and Megan McLinden defeated UNCA's Christine Boissevain and Emily McNall in a match that would need a super set to determine a winner. Díaz and McLinden jumped out to a 3-1 lead starting out, but the Bulldogs would battle back to force the extra play. WCU won the No. 1 match 9-8 (10-7). In No. 2 doubles, Jimenez and Barry defeated Soldier and Dodge, 8-5.
Iglesias Díaz and Jiménez were the lone Catamounts to pick up wins in singles play. After dropping the first set 3-6, Iglesias Díaz battled back to win 6-3, 6-3. Jiménez defeated Christine Boissevain 6-2, 6-2 to pick up her team-leading fifth singles win of the season.
Western Carolina travels to the Queen City tomorrow to face UNC Charlotte at 2:30 pm before returning to Southern Conference play Sunday against the College of Charleston.
Appalachian State 6, Jacksonville 1
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - After falling to College of Charleston in Southern Conference action, Appalachian State University women's tennis bounced back with a 6-1 defeat of non-conference opponent Jacksonville on Wednesday. The Mountaineers (8-4, 1-1 SoCon) have now won five of their last six matches, while the Dolphins (3-7) are on a four-match skid.
In doubles action, senior Blakeley Bean and sophomore Jessica Thaggard struck the first blow with an 8-4 win at No. 3. Appalachian's senior pair of Gisela Fernandez and Gabriela Celi soon followed with an 8-5 win to clinch the doubles point. JU's No. 1 pair earned an 8-6 win to stave off the doubles sweep.
In singles action, Thaggard picked up a 6-3 win in her first set at No. 4 and tore through the second set en route to a 6-3, 6-0 win.
Junior Kim-Lea Dinh had no trouble earning her victory at No. 4 singles, winning 6-1, 6-2.
With the Mountaineers up 3-0, junior Jennifer Ansari added a comfortable win at No. 2 singles, dropping only four games in her 6-2, 6-2 victory, clinching the match for Appalachian.
Freshman Gabby Gabriel continues to impress in her rookie season, pulling out a 6-2, 6-4 victory at No. 6 singles.
Appalachian's closest win was Celi at No. 3, who still managed to win in two sets, 6-4, 6-4, giving the Apps six points on the day.
Jacksonville's only point in the match came at No. 1 singles, where freshman Aline Staudt of Germany picked up a 6-3, 6-3 win and prevented the team shutout.
The Mountaineers now head north from Florida to take on SoCon opponent Georgia Southern in their next match. Action begins in Statesboro on Fri., March 16 at noon.