DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Appalachian State University women's tennis got back on the winning track in its first of three games in the Sunshine State, defeating Bethune-Cookman University 6-1 at City Island Tennis Center on Monday. 

“Really proud of the way our team stayed tough in this one,” head coach Colin Crothers said. “We maintained our energy throughout and came away with a great win to start this slate of games. Hopefully, we can carry this momentum and energy into tomorrow's match.”

The Mountaineers (4-6) outlasted two late runs as the Wildcats (4-8) forced the 10-point tiebreaker set at the No. 4 and 5 singles matches.

In doubles play, McKayla Zupan and Gabrielle Wreder set the tone early, winning 6-2 at the No. 3 spot before Megan Mullen and Taylor Bygrave improved to 2-1 as a duo, winning a hard-fought 7-5 match at the No. 2 to wrap up the doubles point for Appalachian. No. 1 duo of Clare Cox and Heidi Swope was played out, as they fell in a tough 6-3 decision.

In singles play, Cox dropped the No. 1 spot to Mina Matsuba, 6-2, 6-2, before Melissa Machado got the Mountaineers back in stride with a 6-1, 7-5 win at the No. 2. Wreder downed Hilary Hanton quickly at the No. 3 position, winning 6-1, 6-0.

At the No. 4 spot, Swope battled all the way back from a 4-6 first set loss to win 6-4 in the second set to force a tiebreaker. The extra set was neck-and-neck, but Swope managed to squeak out the win, taking the tiebreaker 10-8 and securing match point for the Mountaineers.

Rebecca Morse also found herself in a tiebreaker set at the No. 5 after winning the first set 6-4, before dropping the second set 4-6. Once in the extra set, Morse regained control quickly and won 10-4. Finishing out the day at the No. 6, Brianna Armellino got her first win of the season, dropping Karen Romero in a 6-4, 6-4 decision.

The Mountaineers continue to play in Florida on Tuesday as they take on No. 16 (ITA Division II) Flagler College in St. Augustine at the Flagler Tennis Center. First serve is set for 3 p.m.