BOONE, N.C. - It was a fun-filled day for App State women's tennis (15-5, 9-1 SBC), as the Mountaineers pushed past Texas State (6-13, 2-8 SBC) 4-1 for their first conference championship in program history on Senior Day and locked up the No. 1 seed for the Sun Belt Championships held in Peachtree City, Ga. next weekend.
With Georgia State defeating South Alabama earlier in the evening, the Black and Gold earned the outright Sun Belt regular-season title. It's been quite the turnaround for women's tennis, as the Mountaineers were 5-19 in head coach Blake Mosley's first season at the helm. Since then in two seasons, the Apps are 26-16 with one Sun Belt Tournament win and now a championship under their belt.
"We're so proud of this group and all the hard work they've put into this season!" coach Mosley said. "All the credit goes to the ladies and their dedication to a growth mindset. We've still got a lot of work to do though, so we're back at it Tuesday preparing for the conference tournament."
Appalachian recognized its seniors in
Jeannez Daniel,
Rebecca Morse and
Heidi Swope, who all made contributions to Sunday's victory prior to the contest.
App State showcased a dominant performance in doubles with Daniel and Morse completing an undefeated season in conference play following their 6-0 sweep over Andrea Fuchs and S. Murcia-Rodriguez. The pair finished the regular season 9-1 overall and 8-0 in league action. Daniel and Morse head to Peachtree City with an eight-match win streak and the only undefeated doubles tandem in the league.
For the second time in as many matches, this weekend,
Heidi Swope and
María José Zacarias clinched the doubles point with a 6-3 triumph over Ana Perez and J. Navajo-Melendez for their third consecutive triumph.
In singles,
Teodora Sevo started out the gate with a 6-0, 7-6 (7-3) victory over Ana Perez for her 10th singles win of the season and heads into the conference tournament with momentum as she's 3-1 over her last four matches. After Texas State closed the gap to 2-1, Zacarias and Morse made sure the Bobcats wouldn't get any closer.
Zacarias ended the weekend 2-0 in both singles and doubles after she fought off Navajo-Melendez in three sets. The sophomore won the first set, 6-1, before her counterpart claimed the second frame 6-4. In the final stanza, Zacarias cruised to a 6-2 victory to give App a 3-1 lead.
It was fitting for a senior to close out the day. Morse tied her career high in singles wins (9) after she downed Joy Chia Ming Ming in straight sets, 6-4, 6-4, sealing the Apps 15th win of the season and ending the year undefeated at home in league action.
App State rolls into the conference tournament with four Mountaineers winning at least two straight singles contests and two doubles teams winning three contests in a row. The Mountaineers finished the regular season with a 62-45 mark in singles (32-17 in conference) and 32-17 in doubles (17-6 in Sun Belt).
Singles competition
1.
Teodora Sevo (APP) def. Ana Perez (TXST) 6-0, 7-6 (7-3)
2. Israel-Lewis,Rishona (TXST) def.
Kate Earnhardt (APP) 6-1, 6-4
3.
María José Zacarias (APP) def. J. Navajo-Melendez (TXST) 6-1, 4-6, 6-2
4.
Rebecca Morse (APP) def. Joy Chia Ming Ming (TXST) 6-4, 6-4
5.
Heidi Swope (APP) vs. Andrea Fuchs (TXST) 7-6, 1-0, unfinished
6.
Sandra Anglesjö (APP) vs. S. Murcia-Rodriguez (TXST) 6-2, 4-1, unfinished
Doubles competition
1. Swope/Zacarias (APP) def. Perez/Navajo-Melendez (TXST) 6-3
2. Anglesjö/Sevo (APP) vs. Israel-Lewis/Chia Ming Ming (TXST) 4-4, unfinished
3. Daniel/Morse (APP) def. Fuchs/Murcia-Rodriguez (TXST) 6-0
Match Notes:
Texas State 6-13 (2-8 SBC)
Appalachian State 15-5 (9-1 SBC)
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1); Singles (1,2,3,4)
