SPARTANBURG, S.C. – After trailing by two team points, the Wofford women’s tennis team made a rally for five-straight, defeating the visiting UNC Asheville Bulldogs, 5-2, Thursday afternoon at Reeves Tennis Center.
Taylor Carlson was eventually the deciding factor in the match. After pairing with freshman Lauren Reid for the lone doubles victory (6-3) over Hunter Hall and Caroline Sherrer, Carlson would face Hall again in singles play.
Calrson entered her third set with Hall as the Terriers led, 3-2, with only her and senior Audrey Coventry still in play. The sophomore led, 4-3, in the third set, needing just two more games to win the match.
“I told her to keep being aggressive - to keep pushing forward,” third-year head coach Krissy Hall responded when asked about the conversation during the break. “I told her to trust her shot and have confidence in herself, and she didn’t disappoint.”
Calrson jumped ahead, taking two straight games to secure the Terriers eighth win of the season with a 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 victory.
“I’m really proud of the comeback again today,” said Hall. “It’s tough to bounce back after dropping the doubles point, but the girls really gave it their all and it showed. Both Audrey and Mareli lost their first sets, rallied, and found a way to pull through. I think the whole team is doing a great job of staying in it and fighting until the end.”
“Asheville is a really good team that knows how to finish matches. We played very strategically today, and it definitely helped lead us to the win.”
The Bulldogs came out aggressive, taking the doubles point to open up a 1-0 lead. Emily McNall and Ericka Rivero opened up doubles at No. 1, topping Catherine Martine and Mareli Sanchez, 6-2. Christine Boissevain and Lauren Brooker topped Kalli Karas and Samantha Russell, 6-4, before Carlson and Reid earned the 6-3 win at No. 3.
UNC Asheville earned a 7-5, 6-2 win at No. 1 singles over Catherine Martin before Wofford turned things around. Russell spurred the comeback, dispatching Amalie Davidsen in straight sets, 6-4, 6-2. Russell was quickly followed by Karas, who blanked Christine Boissevain in the second set, 7-6, 6-0 to equalize for the Terriers at No. 3. Sanchez then bounced back after dropping the first set to earn a win at No. 5, 0-6, 6-3, 6-3 over Brooker, before Carlson clinched the match.
Senior Audrey Coventry also faced a setback before powering ahead to a 6-7, 6-2, 6-3 win at No. 2 over Ericka Rivero.