College of Charleston 5, Chattanooga 2
MT. PLEASANT, S.C. – The College of Charleston women’s tennis team knocked off Southern Conference foe Chattanooga 5-2 this afternoon at the College of Charleston Tennis Center at Patriots Point.
This was CofC’s fourth win in a row and it was senior day for three Cougars: Christin Newman, Irene Viana, and Olivia McMillan.
The win brings The College’s record to 15-8 with a 6-1 mark in SoCon. After a Furman loss this afternoon, the Cougars are now in sole possession of first place in the conference. The Mocs now stand at 16-4, 5-4 in the SoCon.
Things started off tough in doubles as only the duo of Newman and sophomore Samantha Maddox emerged with a victory. The tandem overcame Jenna Nurik and Jovana Pecovski of Chattanooga 8-3 at the No. 2 line.
Sophomore Jenny Falcone got things going in the right direction in singles when she defeated Kelsey Coots of the Mocs 6-3, 6-1 on Court 4.
Newman won her fourth singles match in a row via a 6-1, 6-2 score over Jenna Nurik on Court 1.
Maddox kept the momentum going when she defeated Katie Polk of Chattanooga 6-3, 6-2 on Court 5.
Freshman Katherine Schofield won her second in a row after returning from an ankle injury. She bested Pecovski 6-3, 6-3 on Court 6.
Junior Kelly Kambourelis wrapped things up with a come-from-behind 0-6, 6-4, 6-3 victory over Kayla Jones of the Mocs on Court 2.
Elon 5, Furman 2
GREENVILLE, S.C. – The Elon University women’s tennis team set the program’s Division I single-season record for victories with a 5-2 win at Furman on Sunday, April 7. Winners of six straight, the Phoenix improves to 17-3 (7-2 Southern Conference) on the year and remains in the hunt for the regular-season league crown.
Jordan Johnston and Frida Jansaker improved to 18-2 on the year in doubles with an 8-2 win over Furman’s Lauren Kline and Alex Moreno-Kaste at No. 1. Following a win by the Paladins at No. 2, Briana Berne and Taylor Casey battled tooth and nail with Furman’s Margaret Boyette and Kelly Sullivan to come out with a thrilling 9-8 win to give Elon an early 1-0 advantage and momentum.
Jansaker dispatched Moreno-Kaste quickly at No. 2, winning in straight sets, 6-1, 6-1, to give the Phoenix a 2-0 lead. Jansaker improves to 18-3 on the year in singles play with the win.
Bryn Khoury improved to 18-4 on the year with a 6-0, 6-2, win at No. 4 against Michele Stanford to push the Phoenix out to a 3-0 lead.
Johnston clinched the match win for the maroon and gold at No. 1, claiming a 7-6, 6-1, victory over Kline to give the Phoenix a 4-0 lead.
Barbora Lazarova picked up a win for Elon at No. 5, topping Amanda Murray in straight sets, 7-5, 6-1.
Appalachian State 7, Western Carolina 0
CULLOWHEE, N.C. - Appalachian State women’s tennis picked up its second consecutive road win when it blanked Southern Conference foe Western Carolina in a 7-0 decision on Sunday afternoon at Catamount Athletic Complex.
The Mountaineers, who completed the second of three road matches, saw their overall record improve to 13-7, while moving to 5-3 in league play.
The Catamounts (1-12, 0-7 SoCon) captured the first doubles match of the afternoon, 8-5, but Appalachian’s No. 2 team of Gabriela Celi and Jessica Thaggard responded with an 8-4 victory at No. 2. The Mountaineers won No. 3 by default to move ahead of the Catamounts, 1-0.
Singles play belonged to the Mountaineers as well, as they won all six flights. At No. 1 Ellie Linsell dropped her first set, but came back with a 6-3 decision in set two, followed by a 10-8 super tie-breaker.
Clare Cox defeated her opponent, Sara Ruiz Pajares, at No. 2, 6-0, 6-1, while Brianna Armellino played three sets to knock off NIcole Nielly at No. 3 (3-6, 6-3, 6-0).
Jennifer Ansari continued the momentum through fourth flight, where she beat Shannon Bettiol, 6-3, 6-4, along with Jessica Thaggard, who posted her second win of the day in a 6-1, 6-0 victory at No. 5.
The Mountaineers took No. 6 by default to finish out the match and finalize their sweep of the Catamounts.
Georgia Southern 5, Samford 2
STATESBORO, Ga. – The Samford University women’s tennis team won the doubles point Sunday, but couldn’t overcome the Georgia Southern Eagles in singles play as the Bulldogs suffered a 5-2 loss in Southern Conference action held at the Hanner Tennis Complex.
With Sunday’s defeat, Samford (8-12, 3-6 SoCon) suffered its ninth-consecutive road loss and moved to 0-9 when playing away from Birmingham, Ala., this season.
The Bulldogs swept the doubles competition Sunday, but were defeated by Georgia Southern (8-11, 3-6 SoCon) in five of the six singles matches. With the Eagles’ performance in singles, they were able to rally for the 5-2 Senior Day victory.
Samford dominated doubles play with wins from Kristin Lewis and Emily Mallory, Stephanie N’tcha and Jessica Northcutt, as well as Carita Moolman and Adri Lochner.
On court No. 1, the Bulldogs’ combination of Lewis and Mallory defeated Georgia Southern’s Paola Garrido and M. Phillips Smith, 8-5, while Samford’s N’tcha and Northcutt topped the Eagles’ tandem of Natalie Maffett and Stephanie Woods, 8-2, in the No. 2 doubles matchup. With their triumph, N’tcha and Northcutt extended their winning streak four-consecutive matches.
The Bulldogs’ No. 3 pairing of Moolman and Lochner breezed to an 8-3 victory over Georgia Southern’s Jordana Klein and Caitlin Kitchen to complete the doubles sweep Sunday.
In singles play, the Eagles were victorious on five courts, but Samford’s Mallory tallied a key 6-1, 6-3 triumph over Georgia Southern’s Kitchen in the No. 5 matchup. With her straight-set win, the Bulldogs’ Mallory upped her singles record on the season to 12-6 and 6-3 against SoCon opponents.
UNCG 6, Wofford 1
SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The UNCG women’s tennis team defeated the Wofford Terriers, 6-1 Sunday, April 7 advancing its overall record to 12-6 and 8-2 in the SoCon.
The Blue and Gold picked up the doubles point when they won all three matches.
Seniors Niltooli Wilkins and Alex Whitehead won an easy 8-1 match at No. 1 against Sara Evans and Othilia Lindqvist.
At No. 3, sophomore Stephanie Falcon and Dilara Yurkuran won against Guinn Garcia and Mareli Sanchez 8-6.
Senior Annette Rios and Sophomore Kayla Gammie beat Julia Paulson and Lucy Schermerhorn in a close tiebreaker at No. 2, 8-7 (9-7).
In singles play, Gammie won her match at No. 6 against Schermerhorn, 6-4, 6-2, before Falcon defeated Lindqvist at No. 5, 6-0, 6-4.
Rios took down Sanchez in a quick 6-4, 6-2 match at No. 4 to clinch the match, while Wilkins beat Evans at No. 1, 6-2, 6-2.
At No. 2, Yurtkuran outlasted Audrey Coventry, before Whitehead lost in three sets to Paulson at No. 3, 1-6, 6-1, 6-2.