Mountaineers Fall to Blazers in Afternoon Match

BOONE, N.C. - Appalachian State University (8-5) showcased a valiant effort in a 5-2 decision against UAB (7-9) on Tuesday afternoon at Deer Valley Racquet Club.

The match was much closer than the final score indicated as three of the six singles match went to three sets. 

App State continued its dominance in doubles action for the eighth straight contest claiming a 1-0 lead into singles play.

Melissa Machado and Teodora Sevo won its sixth match in a row and improved to a solid 10-2 when they downed Hana Sisirak/Dominika Hrabalova, 6-1. The 10th doubles victory is the first time a duo has won 10 matches since the 2015 season when Machado and App Alumni Megan Mullen won 11 contests.

UAB would tie it the affair when Emily Gaskins and Sandra Anglesjö fell to Sophie Dodds and Alex Shchipakina, 6-1. Clinching the point was Heidi Swope and María José Zacarias in a hard-earned triumph over Marlene Herrmann and Sonia Grzywocz, 6-3, extending their mark to 8-3. 

In singles action, Zacarias was the first to finish in a 7-5, 6-1 decision to Shchipanika as the No.1 in the lineup. 

With the match tied, 1-1, Taylor Bygrave improved to 8-4 on the year and back-to-back wins when she defeated Megan Bertrands via 6-2, 6-4 victory. 

The Apps had the momentum holding on to a 2-1 lead, but the Blazers claimed the last four matches with the three contests coming in three sets. 

Sevo fell to her counterpart in three sets. She topped Herrmann in the first, 6-2, before falling in the next to frames, 6-3, 6-0. 

Machado was defeated by Grzywocz, 6-2, 6-4, that gave UAB a 3-2 lead. Swope won her first set, 6-4, against Dodds, but lost the next two, 6-3, 6-4, in a hard-fought match. 

Rebecca Morse grinded her way to forcing a third and match-deciding stanza after a 6-3 loss in the opening set. She fought for a  6-4 win in the next frame, but lost the final game, 6-2. 

Appalachian will look to bounce back on Sunday at NC Central. First serve is set for 2 p.m.