Appalachian State 4, UNC Asheville 3
BOONE, N.C. – Appalachian State University women's tennis grabbed a 4-3 over UNC Asheville in its home opener on Wednesday at Yonahlossee Racquet Club.
The Mountaineers (1-2) rallied after dropping the doubles point to snag the win over the previously unbeaten Bulldogs (3-1) to pick up their first win of the season.
Appalachian dropped its match at No. 1 doubles as the duo of Clare Cox/Gabrielle Wreder fell by a 6-2 final before the No. 3 combo of Olivia Isbey/McKayla Zupan lost a 6-3 decision. The Mountaineer tandem of Megan Mullen/Mackenzie LaSure led at No. 2 doubles 4-3 when the point was decided.
In singles play, Brianna Armellino picked up App State's first point with a comeback win at No. 3 singles. After dropping the first set, Armellino rallied to win the second set and the hard-fought tiebreaker for a 2-6, 6-2, 10-6 win.
LaSure dominated her match at No. 4 with a 6-2, 6-0 win while Cox was victorious at the No. 1 spot by a final of 6-3, 7-5. Jessica Thaggard finished off the Bulldogs with a 6-2, 6-2 win at No. 5 singles.
Wreder dropped her match at the No. 2 spot (7-6 (7-4), 6-4) while Isbey fell at the No. 6 spot (3-6, 6-2, 10-8) despite leading late in the tiebreaker.
The Mountaineers return to action on Feb. 15 when they host Gardner-Webb at Yonahlossee Racquet Club before embarking on a three-match road swing.
South Carolina 7, Furman 0
COLUMBIA, S.C. – No. 33 South Carolina recorded a 7-0 win over Furman Wednesday in women’s tennis action at the USC Field House in Columbia, S.C.
In doubles play, the Gamecocks picked up wins at the top two spots to clinch the opening point. Meghan Blevins and Elixane Lechemia defeated junior Alex Moreno-Kaste and senior Katherine Oudin, 6-2, at flight one, while Brigit Folland and Katerine Popova topped freshmen Blair Martin and Ansley Speaks, also 6-2, in the number two match-up. The flight three match was unfinished.
The Gamecocks swept the singles, as Lechemia posted a 6-2, 6-1 win over Moreno-Kaste at flight one, and Popova beat Speaks, 6-4, 6-1, at number two. Folland, ranked #113 nationally, registered a 6-0, 6-2 victory over Oudin at flight three, and Ximena Siles Luna defeated Martin, 6-1, 6-0, at number four.
Paladin freshman Karlee Bryde claimed the first set, 6-4, at flight five, before South Carolina’s Caroline Dailey won set two 6-0 and won the tiebreaker for the victory. In the number six match-up, Alex Martin bested junior Kelly Sullivan, 6-4, 7-5.
Furman (1-2) returns home this weekend to entertain Charlotte Saturday at noon. The Paladins will square off against UNC Wilmington on Sunday at noon, also at the Mickel Tennis Center.