Wofford 4, East Tennessee State 2
SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Junior Audrey Coventry clinched the match at the No. 2 singles position as the Wofford women’s tennis team earned a huge win over future Southern Conference member East Tennessee State University, 4-2, on Friday afternoon at the John E. Reeves Tennis Center.
With the victory, the Terriers improve to 3-1 overall and the Buccaneers fall to 2-3 overall with the loss.
Wofford claimed the first point with a two come from behind wins in doubles to take a 1-0 lead. After ETSU won the No. 2 position, No. 3 duo of sophomore Mareli Sanchez and freshman Taylor Carlson defeated Sofia Espana and Augustina Amon, 6-2, to tie up the doubles point. The top duo of seniors Julia Paulson and Sarah Evans won the doubles point winning, 6-4, and defeating ETSU’s Lyn Yee Choo and Salma Dahbi.
In singles play, Wofford extended its lead, 2-0, when Sanchez defeated Amon, 6-2, 6-1, at the No. 6 position. The Bucs cut into the Terriers lead as Choo defeated Evans at the top court, 6-1, 6-0, making the score, 2-1. ETSU then tied up the match, 2-2, winning the No. 5 spot.
The Terriers would then enter two match tiebreakers in the final two singles matches. Paulson defeated Anna Gerbasi at the No. 3 position, 6-3, 0-6, 1-0 (10-4), giving Wofford a slight 3-2 advantage. No. 2 singles player Coventry then clinched the victory for the Terriers as she defeated Giulia Andreazza, 6-3, 2-6, 1-0 (11-9), earning Wofford the 4-2 victory.
The Wofford women’s tennis team is back in action on Friday, February 14, as they host the University of Charlotte at the John E. Reeves Tennis Center at 2:30 p.m.
Georgia Southern 7, Alabama A&M 0
MONTGOMERY, Ala.- Georgia Southern women's tennis defeated Alabama A&M today 7-0 at the Olean Black Underwood Tennis Center at Alabama State University. The Eagles increase their record to 2-0.
In singles play, Jordana Klein notched a win over Oriana Rodriguez (6-0, 6-1). Daria Vasekina was victorious over Jessica Taylor (6-0, 6-1). Mary Phillips Smith defeated Khyana Price (6-0, 6-0), and Caitlin Kitchen beat Leslie Ekpe (6-0, 6-0).
In the doubles bracket, Stephanie Woods and Giulia Riepe dominated over Oriana Rodriguez and Jessica Taylor (6-0). Paola Garrido and McKinsey Fiveash secured a win against Khyana Price and Leslie Ekpe (6-0). Jordana Klein and Caitlin Kitchen won their doubles set by forfeit.
The Eagles face Alabama State tomorrow morning, February 8th, at 10am. On Sunday, February 9th, the Eagles play Auburn University at 11am.
Coastal Carolina 5, Western Carolina 1
CONWAY, S.C. - Western Carolina’s Stacia Kissell won her second straight singles contest of the season, but the Catamounts could not capitalize dropping their second match of the 2014 campaign, 5-1, at Coastal Carolina Friday morning at the Billy Nichols Tennis Center.
The Chanticleers started the morning leading 1-0 as WCU forfeited the No.6 singles match point. Coastal Carolina began play with a victory at the No. 4 singles position as Marie Babayan defeated Megan McLinden, 6-1, 6-1.
WCU’s Sara Ruiz Pajares fell to Honami Yazawa 6-4, 6-2, in the No. 3 singles match. The Chanticleers clinched victory in the No. 2 singles match when Kourtney Kowal defeated Shannon Bettiol 6-2, 7-5.
Coastal claimed their fifth point of the morning with a win at the No. 5 matchup Romane Delay's defeat of Erin Maguire in straight sets, 6-3, 6-2.
Stacia Kissell took the opening set of the No. 1 singles match, but the Chanticleers’ Libby Scott forced a decisive third set with a win in the second set. Kissell rallied in the tiebreak earning WCU’s only point of the day with the 6-3, 1-6, 10-7 decision.
UNC Wilmington 7, Western Carolina 0
WILMINGTON, N.C. – Western Carolina women’s team had a short turnaround as the Catamounts dropped their second match of the day, 7-0, at UNC Wilmington on Friday at the UNCW Courts.
The Purple & Gold, who earlier in the day lost 5-1 at Coastal Carolina in an 8:30 a.m. match, traveled the roughly 85 miles -- hour and a half ride -- from Coastal Carolina to UNC Wilmington for the matinee match against the Seahawks.
“I’m proud of the team’s effort today in both matches Friday,” said first year head coach Michaela Kissell-Eddins. “It is never easy to have a doubleheader at two different schools, but the girls handled the day very well. They came out ready to compete in both matches and gave it their all. I feel that we will be leaving here a tougher and more experienced team.”
Starting the match with doubles competition, WCU’s No. 1 team, Stacia Kissell and Shannon Bettiol fell to Olga Blank and Christine Kharkevich, 8-5. The win gave the Seahawks the doubles point as the Catamounts had the forfeit the No. 3 doubles position.
UNCW was victorious over the Catamounts in the No. 2 doubles match as Angie Sekely and Alyssa Ritchie defeated Erin Maguire and Megan McLinden, 8-0.
After her win earlier today, WCU’s Stacia Kissell was defeated No. 1 singles match by UNCW’s Angie Sekely, 6-2, 6-2. It was her first loss of the 2014 season in singles competition.
UNCW’s Hamilton Lovett defeated WCU’s Megan McLinden at the No. 5 singles spot to pull the Seahawks within a point of clinching the match.
With three points in hand, UNCW clinched the match as Alyssa Ritchie won the No. 2 singles match against Shannon Bettiol, 6-2, 6-1.
The Catamounts dropped the last two singles matches, as Sara Ruiz Pajares fell in her match against Christine Kharkevich, 6-1, 6-2 in the No. 3 singles contest, and Erin Maguire was defeated by Kelly Cameron, 6-2, 6-4, in the No. 4 singles match. WCU forfeited the No. 6 singles, giving the Seahawks the 7-0 sweep.
Western Carolina takes the court again on Wednesday, February 12 as the Catamounts travel to Gardner-Webb with start time for the match against the Runnin’ Bulldogs scheduled to begin at 2 p.m.
Memphis 4, Chattanooga 0
MEMPHIS, Tenn. - The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga women’s tennis team dropped its first match of the season in a 4-0 loss at No. 33 Memphis tonight. The Mocs lost two doubles and three singles matches in non-conference action.
Junior Kaylene Chadwell and sophomore Kayla Jones lost at No. 1 to Alyssa Hibberd and Carolina Wegner (6-2). Memphis clinched the doubles point with Stefanie Mikesz and Amki Wind’s (6-3) win over senior Alexa Flynn and sophomore Kelsey Coots at No. 2.
Jones, Flynn and Coots all lost in singles action. Chadwell was up a set and 3-2 in the second against Skkylar Kuykendall at No. 2 when the match ended. Flynn also played well, falling (7-5, 7-5) to Wegner at No. 3.
Memphis extended its home winning streak to a school-record 35-straight matches with the win over the Mocs. UTC falls to 3-1 on the year while the Tigers improved to 4-2. ‘
Chattanooga stays in Memphis for tomorrow’s 2:00 p.m. (E.S.T.) match against Murray State (2-1).