College of Charleston
South Carolina
Baker Shines as Cougars fall to No.33 Gamecocks in Season Opener
1/19/2014 2:21:00 AM | Women's Tennis
COLUMBIA, S.C. – In her first competitive action since suffering a severe knee injury last season, Grace Baker returned to top-form on Saturday, but it wasn't enough as the College of Charleston women's tennis team fell to the No.33-ranked University of South Carolina Gamecocks in their season opener at the USC Field House.
The Gamecocks (2-0), claimed their second win of the day after defeating Tennessee State in the first match of a double-header earlier in the day.
The College (0-1) played hard, but lost the doubles point early after the Cougar pairings of Katherine Schofield (Franklin, Tenn.) /Jamie Harrell (Charleston, S.C.) and Kelly Kambourelis (Melbourne, Fla.)/Mara Argyriou (Limassol, Cyprus) fell 6-1, 6-1.
Samantha Maddox (Lexington, Ky.) and Brooke McAmis (Greensboro, N.C.) appeared to be headed for an upset victory over South Carolina's pairing of Dailey/Folland, but the match was cut short after the Gamecocks had secured the point on courts #1 and #2.
In singles play, the Cougars got off to a fast start as Argyriou, a 17-year old freshman fought valiantly against No. 113-ranked, UK native, Brigit Folland on court #3, and McAmis showed her class against Katerina Popova on court #2. However, as the Gamecocks began to take control, the focus turned to Baker, who was playing competitively for the first time since a incurring a major knee injury against North Carolina State on Feb. 17, of last year.
“Grace was great out there,” said College of Charleston Director of Tennis Angelo Anastopoulo. “She looked as good as she did before the injury, which is a credit to her. She's been great throughout her recovery and I couldn't have been happier watching her compete out there. Our athletic trainer, Sarah Frye, has also done a great job in helping to get Grace back to her best and ready to play today.”
After taking the first set, 6-3, against Natalie Looney – a freshman from Overland Park, Kansas – Baker battled through a hotly-contested second set, eventually winning 7-5, giving the Cougars their lone point of the match.
For CofC, today's match was the first of three-consecutive days in which they will face highly-touted competition on the road. Tomorrow, the Cougars face former SoCon rival Davidson in Davidson, N.C., with doubles play set to begin at 1:00 p.m. The Cougars then take on ACC conference power Wake Forest in Winston-Salem on Monday.
(33) SOUTH CAROLINA 6, COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON 1
Jan. 18, 2014
USC Field House
Columbia, S.C.
Attendance: 75
SINGLES
No. 1 – Elixane Lechemia (South Carolina) def. Kelly Kambourelis (CofC), 6-1, 6-0.
No. 2 – Katerina Popova (South Carolina) def. Brooke McAmis (CofC), 6-3, 6-0.
No. 3 – Brigit Folland (South Carolina) def. Mara Argyriou (CofC), 6-3, 6-0.
No. 4 – Meghan Blevins (South Carolina) def. Katherine Schofield (CofC), 6-3, 6-1.
No. 5 – Caroline Dailey (South Carolina) def. Samantha Maddox (CofC), 6-1, 7-6.
No. 6 – Grace Baker (CofC) def. Natalie Looney (South Carolina) 6-3, 7-5.
DOUBLES
No. 1 – Meghan Blevins-Elixane Lechemia (South Carolina) def. Jamie Harrell-Katherine Schofield (CofC), 6-1.
No. 2 – Katerina Popva-Ximena Siles-Luna (South Carolina) def. Mara Argyriou/Kelly Kambourelis (CofC), 6-1.
No. 3 – Samantha Maddox-Brooke McAmis (CofC) vs. Caroline Dailey-Brigit Folland (CofC), 4-3, unfinished.
ORDER OF FINISH
Doubles: 2, 1
Singles: 1,2,4,3,5,6
LOOKING AHEAD TO TOMORROW
SCOUTING DAVIDSON
The Wildcats are coming off a 9-12 overall mark in 2013 (2-8 in the SoCon). It was just the third time since 2001 they had a record below .500. Nine of the last 13 years they have had a winning mark, and of Coach Price's 31 seasons, the Wildcats have finished at or above .500 in 23 of them. With last year's nine wins, Coach Price pushed her career win total to 415.
This year's club will feature the return of six letter-winners, who all saw significant time in the starting lineup, led by 2012 All-SoCon Second Team selection Brites Moniz-Soares and 2013 All-SoCon Freshman Team member Elaina Cummer.
Davidson has high hopes this year with the return of seven letter-winners as well as wrapping up its final season in the Southern Conference before it goes to the Atlantic 10 in 2014-15.
College of Charleston leads the overall series between the two teams, 29-4, including the Cougars 7-0 win at Davidson the last time the two teams met on Mar. 23, 2013.
Players Mentioned
