The Mountaineers' comeback fell short as the Appalachian State University women's tennis team fell to the College of Charleston, 4-3, in Southern Conference play, Saturday at the ASU Stadium Tennis Courts.
With the loss, Appalachian falls to 10-5 on the season and 3-2 in SoCon play, while the College of Charleston improves to 10-8 overall and 5-1 in league action.
The Cougars started off with a 1-0 lead after sweeping the doubles flight, 3-0. CofC quickly extended its lead to 2-0 after Chelsea Albertz defeated ASU's Monica Tomas 6-2, 6-4, at No. 2 singles.
Junior Anja Gugger (Cary, N.C.) pulled the Mountaineers within one at 2-1 with a 6-3, 6-1 win over Maxine Capewell at No. 1 singles. The Cougars' lead became 3-1 after Payten Ellington took down senior Lyndsey Free, 6-2, 7-5, at the No. 5 position.
Senior Victoria Moody again pulled ASU within one point of CofC with a 6-4, 6-3 defeat of Amanda Becker at No. 3. With the score at 3-2, the Cougars' Ashley Finnegan pulled out a hard-fought, 6-2, 7-6 (6) win over Salem Kirven (Greensboro, N.C.) at the No. 4 position to clinch the match for the visitors.
Sophomore Frances Blanton used three sets to defeat Jenna Marks, 6-4, 2-6, 7-5 at No. 6 singles.
The Mountaineers return to Southern Conference play as they host Davidson, Sunday, April 2 at 12:30 p.m. at the ASU Stadium Tennis Courts. The Cougars are at East Tennessee State the same day as well, taking on the Bucs at 10:00 a.m.
College of Charleston (CofC) 4, Appalachian State (ASU) 3
Saturday, April 1, 2006
ASU Stadium Tennis Courts
Doubles
1) Albertz/Ellington (CofC) def. Tomas/Blanton (ASU), 8-4
2) Capewell/Finnegan (CofC) def. Free/Gugger (ASU), 8-2
3) Marks/Becker (CofC) def. Kirven/Moody (ASU), 8-3
Order of finish: 3, 2, 1
Singles
1) Anja Gugger (ASU) def. Maxine Capewell (CofC), 6-3, 6-1
2) Chelsea Albertz (CofC) def. Monica Tomas (ASU), 6-2, 6-4
3) Victoria Moody (ASU) def. Amanda Becker (CofC), 6-4, 6-3
4) Ashley Finnegan (CofC) def. Salem Kirven (ASU), 6-2, 7-6 (6)*
5) Payten Ellington (CofC) def. Lyndsey Free (ASU), 6-2, 7-5
6) Frances Blanton (ASU) def. Jenna Marks (CofC), 6-4, 2-6, 7-5
*Match clincher
Order of finish: 2, 1, 5, 3, 4 (clincher), 6
