CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - Appalachian
State University sophomore Jennifer Ansari captured the fourth point at the number two position in ASU's
Southern Conference Championship match versus Wofford in a comeback effort Wednesday afternoon in Chattanooga, Tenn. With
the win, the Apps move on to the quarterfinals for the first time since 2008.
With the team's season on the line, Ansari jumped out to a
6-4 first set lead, but the match would get knotted up when the Terriers' Haley
Baird won the second 6-1. With the team scores tied at 3-3, the junior rose to
the occasion and snagged the last set 6-4, which also clinched the team win for
Appalachian.
The Black and Gold got off to a familiar start falling down
1-0 after losing the doubles point. The duo of Ellie Linsell and Blakeley Bean
dropped at the number one slot to Emilia Milovanovic and Haley Baird,
8-3. The Terriers claimed the doubles point by winning at the No. 3 pairing
over ASU's Jessica Thaggard and Amanda Cash, 8-6.
Ansari and Gisela Fernandez were down 7-3, but they did
not finish the match due the doubles point already being decided.
The Black and Gold came out strong in singles play as
Kim-Lea Dinh blew through Meagan Laframboise at the sixth spot 6-1, 6-1. Cash
followed suit by defeating Lucy Shermerhorn 6-2, 6-1 at No. 5 singles.
Linsell grasped the third point for the Apps by winning
in straight sets over Milovanovic, and her victory was followed with Ansari's
heroics.
Bean and Thaggard were the lone Mountaineers to fall in
singles play.
Appalachian now turns its focus to No. 1 seeded College
of Charleston. The two will face off tomorrow at 8:30 a.m. in Chattanooga,
Tenn.