Furman 7, Western Carolina 0
GREENVILLE, S.C. – The Western Carolina women’s tennis team dropped its second Southern Conference match of the year falling to Furman University 7-0 at the Mickel Tennis Center in Greenville, S.C.
The Paladins jumped out to a 1-0 lead after the doubles round as junior Shannon Bettiol and senior Megan McLinden fell at No. 1 8-3 to Ansley Speaks and Alex Moreno-Kaste. Freshman Montse Mesalles and junior Nicole Nielly fought in a back-and-forth match at No. 2 but eventually fell 8-6 to Blair Martin and Alejandra Gil.
In singles it was Mesalles’ match at No. 5 that finished first as she dropped a 6-1, 6-2 decision to Harper Caswell. Furman’s Karlee Bryde then closed out a 6-0, 6-1 win over junior Erin Maguire at No. 4 to give Furman the match at 4-0.
Martin then took down Nielly at No. 3 6-1, 6-1. Bettiol was the next to fall at No. 2 as she dropped a 6-2, 6-4 match to Moreno-Kaste. The final match came down at No. 1 where McLinden fell to Speaks 6-1, 6-2.
With the loss the Catamounts drop to 3-11 on the season and 1-2 in Southern Conference play. The Paladins improve to 5-12 overall and 1-2 in conference action.
Samford 6, Mercer 1
MACON, Ga. – The Mercer women's tennis team dropped a 6-1 decision to Samford on Wednesday afternoon at the LeRoy Peddy Tennis Center.
The Bulldogs won the doubles point and went on to win the first five singles matches to seal the victory, before Roxy Bartz rallied to win 26, 7-6, 10-8 at the number three spot.
Samford's Savannah Wood gave the Bulldogs a 2-0 lead in the match with a 6-2, 6-1 win over Laura Kelly at the No. 6 position. Carita Moolman pushed Samford ahead 3-0 with her 6-2, 6-0 win over Haley Powell at No. 4.
Stephanie N'tcha recorded a 6-2, 6-4 win over Xandra Fougner at No. 1 singles to give Samford the fourth point of the match.
UNCG 4, Davidson 3
GREENSBORO, N.C. – The UNCG women’s tennis team went the distance for the third-straight match coming out on top against Davidson, 4-3, Wednesday at the UNCG Tennis Courts.
The Spartans improve to 7-8 on the season and Davidson falls to 10-7 with the loss.
In a highly competitive doubles point, UNCG came away with a 1-0 lead after claiming two of three doubles matches. Sophomore Masey DeMoss and junior Soumeya Anane earned a 8-4 win against Sarah Stein and Ava Todd at No. 3 doubles.
At No. 2 doubles, the Wildcats’ duo of Anna Feaster and Ally Sexton defeated senior Stephanie Falcon and freshman Blaine Boaz, 8-6.
In the deciding match, senior Kayla Gammie and freshman Corinne Blythe edged Elaina Cummer and Jenna Brunner, 8-7 (7-5). In the tiebreaker, Gammie and Blythe were trailing 3-2 but won five of the next seven points to claim the doubles point.
In singles, Feaster won in straight sets against Anane, 6-1, 6-2 at No. 2 singles to tie the match at 1-1. DeMoss earned a 6-1, 6-2 win against Sexton at No. 6 singles.
Gammie pushed UNCG’s lead to 3-1 after a straight sets win against Cummer, 7-5, 6-2 at No. 1 singles. Todd defeated junior Amy Ellis, 7-6 (7-5), 7-0 at No. 3 singles.
Davidson tied the match at 3-3 after Brunner defeated Boaz, 6-4, 7-6 (7-4) at No. 5 singles.
In the final match, junior Jamie Grinberg clinched the victory for the Spartans with a third set win against Stein, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 at No. 4 singles. Grinberg improved to 7-6 in singles on the season.