NEW ORLEANS – Despite rallying from a one-point deficit to send the contest to doubles play, Appalachian State University women's tennis saw its season come to an end in a heartbreaking, 4-3 loss to Arkansas State in the first round of the Sun Belt Conference Tournament on Thursday at City Park Center.
The Mountaineers (9-15) and Red Wolves (4-12) both fought against the elements as rain caused a 25 minute delay two hours into the match. Due to the poor weather conditions, the ITA Shortened Format was used - meaning the doubles portion was only played if the match was tied after singles play.
In a back-and-forth contest, Arkansas State grabbed the first point of the match when Tamara Slijepevic defeated Clare Cox by a 6-1, 6-1 score at No. 1. Melissa Machado would answer for Appalachian as she scored a straight-set win at No. 5 (6-4, 6-0]) to the the contest at 1-1.
Moments later, the Red Wolves would go up again as Julie Gaugery topped Gabrielle Wreder, 6-4, 7-6 (7-3), in a highly competitive match at No. 2 singles. Mackenzie LaSure would knot the contest at 2-2 when she earned a win for the Mountaineers at No. 3 (6-4, 4-6, 6-4).
With the match tied and two singles contests remaining, Sabina Jeresic put Arkansas State just one point shy of victory when she grabbed a 7-5, 6-4 win over Brianna Armellino at the No. 4 spot.
On the brink of elimination, the Mountaineers would get a huge lift from Megan Mullen as she rallied from a first-set loss to earn a 6-7 (7-9), 6-2, 6-2 win that sent the match to doubles play.
The Red Wolves earned the first doubles win via a 6-2 win at No. 3 before Appalachian's No. 2 duo of Machado/Mullen pulled out a 6-3 win, setting up an heart-stopping finish as the match came down to the winner of No. 1 doubles.
In the end, it would be Arkansas State's tandem of Jeresic/Slijepevic whole would emerge victorious over Appalachian's team of Cox/LaSure. The 6-2 win gave the Red Wolves the match-clinching fourth point and set them up to face No. 2 Georgia State in Friday's quarterfinal round.
Arkansas State 4, Appalachian State 3
Apr 16, 2015 at New Orleans, La. (City Park Tennis Center)
| Singles competition |
| 1. Slijepcevic, Tamara (ASU) def. Clare Cox (APP) 6-1, 6-1 |
| 2. Gauguery, Julie (ASU) def. Gabrielle Wreder (APP) 6-4, 7-6 (7-3) |
| 3. Mackenzie LaSure (APP) def. Pisani, Victoria (ASU) 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 |
| 4. Jeresic, Sabina (ASU) def. Brianna Armellino (APP) 7-5, 6-4 |
| 5. Melissa Machado (APP) def. Stefanov, Chiara (ASU) 6-4, 6-0 |
| 6. Megan Mullen (APP) def. Krsmanovic, Sofia (ASU) 6-7 (7-9), 6-2, 6-3 |
| Match Notes |
| Arkansas State 4-12 |
| Appalachian State 9-15 |
| Order of finish: Doubles (3,2,1); Singles (1,5,2,3,4,6) |
| 2015 Sun Belt Conference Women's Tennis Championship First Round |
| #7 Appalachian State vs. #10 Arkansas State |
| ITA Shortened Format: Singles played first, Doubles if necessary |
| RAIN DELAY: Approximately 25 minutes beginning at 9:57 AM CT |
