BOONE, N.C. - Appalachian State University women's tennis (9-4, 3-0) came away with an impressive 4-2 triumph over South Alabama (13-2, 2-1 SBC) on Friday afternoon at the Deer Valley Racquet Club
Facing the first of two undefeated teams in conference play this weekend, the Mountaineers handed the Jaguars just their second loss of the season and snapped their three-match win streak. It's also the first win for the Black and Gold over South Alabama. The Apps are rolling right now as they boast a 5-1 record over their last six matches and tie a season-best three-match win streak.
App State won the doubles point and captured three singles matches to seal the victory and improve to 3-1 at home.
Going up against previously unbeaten Patricia Martins (11-0 coming into the match),
Heidi Swope battled to a three-set win to hand Martins her first loss of the season, just her third loss in 24 matches and clinched the win in the process. Swope came back from a 5-2 deficit to win the first set, 7-5 before Martins tied up the contest with her 6-1 second-frame win. In the final stanza, Swope won the contest, 6-2.
The Mountaineers got off to a hot start with a 3-0 advantage following the doubles point and netted the first two finished matches.
Teodora Sevo defeated Alexandria Stiteler in a matchup of No. 1's with a 6-0, 6-4 victory. María José Zacarias earned her fifth win of the campaign thanks to her 6-2, 6-2 decision against Leslie Soto, which gave the Black and Gold the three-point cushion.
USA got back into the match when
Kate Earnhardt fell to Yu Fujioka, 6-4, 6-1, while
Jeannez Daniel fought back from a one-set deficit with a second-set win, 6-2. She forced the match-deciding frame but suffered the 6-3 loss to Nikola Kohoutova.
In doubles play,
Sandra Anglesjö and Sevo notched their seventh win of the season following their 6-1 triumph over Stiteler/Fujioka on Court No. 2. Clinching the doubles point was Morse and Daniel as the third tandem in the lineup. The pairing won their fourth straight match and improved to 5-1 after a 6-2 win over Yurie Takanishi and Kohoutova. The two duos are now a combined 12-3 this season.
App State will look for its second straight Sun Belt sweep against Troy on Sunday at 10 a.m. behind the Mark E. Ricks Athletics Complex on Boone Courts. Troy faced Coastal Carolina earlier this afternoon.
Singles
1. Sevo, Teodora (APP) def. Alexandria Stiteler (USA) 6-0, 6-4
2. Yu Fujioka (USA) def.
Kate Earnhardt (APP) 6-4, 6-1
3. María José Zacarias (APP) def. Leslie Soto (USA) 6-2, 6-2
4. Nikola Kohoutova (USA) def.
Jeannez Daniel (APP) 6-3, 2-6, 6-3
5.
Rebecca Morse (APP) vs. Milka Pasanen (USA) 6-7 (4-7), 4-3, unfinished
6.
Heidi Swope (APP) def. Patricia Martins (USA) 7-5, 1-6, 6-2
Doubles
1. Zacarias/Swope (APP) vs. Martins/Pasanen (USA) 3-2, unfinished
2. Anglesjo/Sevo (APP) def. Stiteler/Fujioka (USA) 6-1
3. Daniel/Morse (APP) def. Kohoutova/Takanishi (USA) 6-2
