Mountaineers Split Final Two Contests in Charlotte

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Appalachian State University women's tennis split its final two contests of the Duckworth Winter Classic in Charlotte. The host-team Clemson defeated the Mountaineers late Saturday night, 4-0, before App State bested Charleston Southern, 4-2, in the final match Sunday morning.

"We want to thank Coach Nancy (Harris) and coach Darrell (Jernigan) from Clemson for putting on a great weekend and to the Charlotte Indoor Tennis Club for hosting," head coach Blake Mosley said. "We're very proud of our team this weekend, to go 2-1 against three very good teams is a good measure of the work we have been putting in. Disciplined choices on and off the court are helping shape our culture."

Clemson 4, Appalachian State 0
In a contest that began at 8:30 p.m. on Saturday, Clemson swept the doubles point and then picked up three straight-set single victories to hand the Mountaineers their first loss of the spring season.
 
Appalachian State 4, Charleston Southern 2 
On Sunday morning, Charleston Southern claimed the doubles tally, but Melissa Machado and Teodora Sevo were able to pick up their second doubles win of the season as the No. 3 duo in the lineup, 6-4. Emily Gaskins and Sandra Anglesjö valiantly fell to their opponents as the No. 2 duo in the lineup while Heidi Swope and María José Zacarias were partnered as the top pairing in the lineup, but suffered a 6-3 decision. 

In what would be a back-and-forth affair in single play, Sevo helped App tie up the match, 1-1, when she recorded a 6-2, 6-3 triumph as the No. 2 in the book over Man. Taylor Bygrave gave Appalachian its first lead when she convincingly dealt her opponent a 6-2, 6-3 defeat. Charleston Southern tied up the match when Swope fought hard in three sets but lost the battle 5-7, 6-2, 6-0. Machado and Rebecca Morse provided the Black and Gold with more clutch moments capturing three-set victories in the final two singles contests to seal the victory. Machado won in three sets, 2-6, 6-0, 7-5 after she dropped her first set to Michelle Schmitz, 6-2, but swept six points in set two to force a tie-break set in which she won, 7-5. Morse clinched the win at the five spot, 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 over Kimberley Koerner. 

The Mountaineers have opened up the season with a 2-1 record for the first time since 2013. Appalachian will look to add to its win total against ACC-foe Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Va on Friday, January 26.