Women's Tennis Southern Conference

Wofford Holds Off USC Upstate Friday

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Wofford College women’s tennis team grabbed a win from the Spartans of USC Upstate on Friday evening, in an exciting 4-3 match.
 
The Terriers were led by junior Mareli Sanchez, who helped win pivotal matches in both singles and doubles play.  In doubles play, Sanchez paired with sophomore Catherine Martin at the No. 2 spot. After the Terriers split the No. 1 and 3 matches, Martin and Sanchez trailed Upstate’s Anna Zoske and Sharlee Deshmukh 7-3. The Wofford duo then accomplished a difficult feat – winning six straight points in order to claim the doubles point with a 9-7 victory.
 
Sanchez also played a critical role in the Terriers’ singles play, clinching the match for the team. Wofford had the lead, 3-1, when Sanchez took the sixth spot, 6-2, 6-3 over Sarah Vande Berg to lock up the match.
 
Doubles play began with a split before Sanchez and Martin secured the point. No. 3 wrapped up first as sophomore Taylor Carlson and freshman Samantha Russell took the matchup, 8-5, against Nina Roell and Vande Berg. Next, sophomore Kalli Karas and Lauren Reid fell at No. 1in a tight, 9-7 match to Isabel Von Stryk and Nona Ruppert.
 
The Terriers won the first two singles matchups with relative ease. Russell led Roell 5-1 at No. 4 before Roell retired due to injury. Her classmate Reid took the No. 5 spot in straight sweeping sets, 6-0, 6-0.
 
Audrey Coventry played at No. 2, falling 6-1, 6-2 to Ruppert before Sanchez clinched the win.
 
The Terriers dropped the remaining matchups in three, with Martin falling 7-5, 6-7, 10-6 at No. 1 and Karas facing a 4-6, 6-1, 6-2 setback to Zoske at No. 3.
 
Wofford, now sitting at 5-4, will play next against UNC Charlotte in Charlotte, North Carolina on Tuesday. First serve is set for 2:30 p.m.