College of Charleston
Clemson
Cougars Knock Off Top-Ranked Doubles Team in Loss to Clemson
3/16/2015 11:21:00 PM | Women's Tennis
CHARLESTON - College of Charleston's top-seeded women's tennis duo of senior Jenny Falcone and junior Katherine Schofield shocked the tennis world today by defeating the No. 1 ranked doubles team in the country in the Cougars' loss to Clemson at Patriots Point Tennis Center.
Although the No. 15 Tigers (9-5, 4-1 ACC) would eventually sweep the Cougars (3-10, 0-1 CAA) with a 7-0 score, it was the 6-3 triumph by Falcone and Schofield that had most people talking. Seniors Beatrice Gumulya and Jessy Rompies were a perfect 10-0 in dual matches going into Monday and had been ranked first in the nation on the ITA Tennis Rankings since Feb. 10.
College of Charleston's top-seeded women's tennis team of senior Jenny Falcone and junior Katherine Schofield shocked the tennis world by defeating the top doubles team in college tennis in the Cougars' loss to Clemson on Monday afternoon at Patriots Point Tennis Center. Falcone and Schofield are 4-7 at the top spot for the Cougars, with a 2-1 mark over the last week.
“I'm really proud of them,” head coach Angelo Anastopoulo said. “They have been playing great doubles all year and it really came together today. They played a perfect match to beat a great team.”
While Monday's win is the biggest of the pair's career, it isn't the first time this season the team has played well against ranked teams. The duo was up 5-4 against No. 70 Lyn Yee Choo and Ioanna Markesini of East Tennessee State when the doubles point was decided on Mar. 11.
Falcone and Schofield's win tied the doubles score at one match apiece, making it come down to senior Samantha Maddox and junior Brooke McAmis against another nationally-ranked doubles team, No. 70 Romy Koelzer and Tristen Dewar. Maddox and McAmis stayed close on the heels of the Tigers, down just 4-3 at the midpoint of the match, before yielding a 7-5 decision at the doubles point.
Charleston continued to battle in singles matches, although Clemson would eventually sweep all six. Maddox led the fight on court one, staying on No. 43 Koelzer's heels throughout the 6-3, 7-5 loss. Schofield also gave her opponent, No. 95 Gumulya, a good match in the No. 2 spot, winning four games in the first set and three in the second for a 6-4, 6-3 loss.
“We've been working as a team on just doing little things right,” Anastopoulo said. “Making good choices on our shots and our emotions in between points and keeping ourselves upbeat throughout and it really looked better today.”
The Cougars won't have long to rest as they prepare to host Rutgers (5-5, 0-3 Big Ten) tomorrow at 2 p.m. Charleston plays six straight home matches in six days as part of Coach Anastopoulo's famed “hell week,” designed to strengthen the team before conference matches.
“Our expectation is just to go out there tomorrow and keep trying to get better,” Anastopoulo said.
The Scarlet Knights are coming off a 5-2 loss to No 73 Michigan State in the team's conference opener on Friday.
Fans can keep track of the Cougars on Live Stats. during the match.
Singles:
1. No. 43 Romy Koelzer (CU) def. Samantha Maddox (CofC) 6-3, 7-5
2. No. 95 Beatrice Gumulya (CU) def. Katherine Schofield (CofC) 6-4, 6-3
3. No. 26 Joana Eidukonyte (CU) def. Jenny Falcone (CofC) 6-0, 6-1
4. No. 122 Jessy Rompies (CU) def. Helena Nyikos (CofC) 6-2, 6-0
5. Daniela Ruiz (CU) def. Grace Backer (CofC) 6-1, 6-3
6. Yuilynn Miao (CU) def. Sarah Jane Jones (CofC) 6-0, 6-0
Order of Finish: 6,5,4,3,1,2
Doubles:
1. Jenny Falcone/Katherine Schofield (CofC) def. No. 1 Beatrice Gumulya/Jessy Rompies (CU) 6-3
2. No. 70 Tristen Dewar/Romy Koelzer (CU) def. Samantha Maddox/Brooke McAmis (CofC) 7-5
3. Daniela Ruiz/Joana Eidukonyte (CU) def. Mara Argyriou/Helena Nyikos (CofC) 6-2
Order of Finish: 3, 1, 2
Players Mentioned
