Furman 7, Western Carolina 0
GREENVILLE, S.C. – The Furman women’s tennis team blanked Western Carolina, 7-0, Wednesday in the Paladins’ Senior Day match at the Mickel Tennis Center in Greenville, S.C.
Prior to the match, the team honored the Paladins’ three seniors, Lauren Kline, Jenny Porter, and Michele Stanford for their four years of dedication to the Furman program. The trio has amassed a 54-37 overall record and 13-8 SoCon mark during their four seasons on the Paladin team.
Due to a shortened Catamount lineup, Porter and junior Amanda Murray picked up a win by default at number three doubles, leaving the Paladins needing just one doubles victory to net the opening point. Juniors Katherine Oudin and Margaret Boyette came through for Furman at number two, defeating Nicole Nielly and Sara Ruiz Pajares, 8-2. Western Carolina’s Stacia Kissell and Shannon Bettiol led Kline and sophomore Alex Moreno-Kaste, 6-5, in an unfinished match at number one.
Furman swept the singles matches, as Kline came from behind to defeat Kissell, 6-7(3-7), 6-4, 1-0(10-1) in the top spot, and Moreno-Kaste notched a 6-1, 6-2 advantage over Pajares at flight two. Oudin topped Nielly, 6-4, 6-1, at number three, and Murray came back for a 5-7, 6-4, 1-0(10-7) victory versus Bettiol at flight four. In the number five match-up, Porter topped Erin Maguire, 7-6, 6-3. Boyette earned a win by default at number six.
UNCG 5, East Carolina 2
GREENVILLE, N.C.– The UNCG women’s tennis team concluded its regular season with a 5-2 victory over East Carolina Wednesday, April 10 in Greenville, N.C.
The Blue and Gold dominated in doubles when they won three out of three matches to win the point.
Seniors Niltooli Wilkins and Alex Whitehead doubled up to take down Neena Wanko and Nicole LaDuca, 8-5.
Senior Annette Rios and Kayla Gammie defeated Yilian Zhang and Melis Tanik, 8-3.
Sophomore Stephanie Falcon and junior Dilara Yurtkuran won their match 8-2 against Danielle Terpko and Abby Richmond.
In singles play, Wilkins won in two sets against Wanko, 7-5, 6-1, while Whitehead beat Tanik easily, 6-3, 6-2.
Rios fought in three sets but fell 5-7, 7-5, 1-0 to Zhang.
Falcon brought home a 6-4, 6-4 victory, while Gammie dropped a tough three-set match to LaDuca, 3-6, 6-2, 6-3.
Freshman Soumeya Anane outlasted Richmond in three sets, 6-4, 3-6, 1-0.
Middle Tennessee 4, Samford 3
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – The Samford University women’s tennis team suffered its fourth heart-wrenching 4-3 loss of the 2013 season Wednesday as the Bulldogs dropped a nonconference road contest to the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders in a well-played match held at the Buck Bouldin Tennis Center.
Samford (8-13) won the doubles point Wednesday, but fell short in singles matches on courts No. 1, No. 2, No. 3 and No. 5 in the 4-3 road defeat. With their loss, the Bulldogs dropped to 0-10 when playing away from home this season.
Also this year, Samford has suffered hard-fought 4-3 losses to UAB, Appalachian State and UNCG. The Bulldogs will next be in action Sunday at noon (CDT) as they return to Southern Conference action for a regular-season finale on the road against Chattanooga.
With its win, Middle Tennessee (10-9) tallied a second straight victory and moved to 5-4 at home this year. The Blue Raiders clinched Wednesday’s nonconference win at No. 5 singles where Carla Nava rallied for a 5-7, 6-3, 6-2 victory over Samford’s Emily Mallory.
Samford jumped out to an early 1-0 lead over Middle Tennessee by posting doubles triumphs on courts No. 1 and No. 3.
In the No. 1 doubles contest, the Bulldogs’ tandem comprised of Kristin Lewis and Mallory earned an 8-4 victory over their Blue Raider counterparts, while Samford’s No. 3 pairing of Carita Moolman and Adri Lochner notched a similar 8-4 win over Middle Tennessee’s Alexandra Torres and Nava.
The Bulldogs secured the all-important doubles point Wednesday, but quickly found themselves in a 2-1 hole in singles play as the Blue Raiders posted straight-set wins on courts No. 3 and No. 1.
Despite Middle Tennessee’s early rally in singles, Samford bounced back with wins of its own from Moolman and AnnMarie Lyon to take a 3-2 advantage. Moolman, the Bulldogs’ true freshman native of Aranos, Namibia, earned a come-from-behind 1-6, 6-3, 6-2 triumph over the Blue Raiders’ Nayara Moraes on court No. 4, while Lyon defeated Alexandra Torres, 6-3, 7-6(2), on court No. 6.
Middle Tennessee rallied for the late 4-3 victory with singles wins on courts No. 2 and No. 5 from Yuiri Nomoto and Nava, respectively.