College of Charleston
Elon
Cougars Stunned as Elon Comes Back for 4-3 Win
3/21/2016 10:15:00 PM | Women's Tennis
MT. PLEASANT, S.C. – For the second straight match, the College of Charleston women's tennis team (12-8) got out to a 3-0 lead over a conference opponent before ultimately falling 4-3, as the Cougars went down to the Elon Phoenix (7-9) on Monday.
Doubles play was a rousing success for the College, who swept all three flights en route to the point. Katherine Schofield and Mara Argyriou continued their epic season together, knocking off Kirsten Ward and Natalia Janowicz 6-3 to improve their record to an incredible 16-1 on the year. Helena Nyikos and Brooke McAmis teamed up for just the second time this season in the second flight to pull off the 6-4 win over Erica Braschi and Taylor Casey to take the point.
Though it didn't ultimately factor into the doubles decision, Liza Fieldsend and Sarah Zschunke put on a show in the third flight against Olivia Lucas and Suzanne Zenoni. The Cougars came from behind to knot the match up at 6-6, leading to a thrilling tiebreaker that ended in CofC pulling out the gutsy 7-5 win.
Singles play started off well for the Cougars when senior McAmis won 6-3, 6-2 over Janowicz to give CofC the 2-0 edge. Shortly thereafter, Nyikos won in the fifth flight 6-2, 6-1 over Casey to put the College on the cusp at 3-0.
That's as close as the Cougars would come, however. Liza Fieldsend surrendered the first point to Elon in the top flight. After handily winning the first set 6-1, things turned quickly as her opponent Olivia Lucas turned on the jets to take the second and third sets 7-5, 6-0. Argyriou and Sarah Jane Jones dropped the fourth and sixth sets 7-6(0), 6-3 and 6-0, 7-6(2) to give Elon their second and third points to tie the match up at 3-3.
That set up a decisive second flight showdown between Katherine Schofield and Erica Braschi, who played a marvelous matchup full of dramatic turns. Braschi won the first set, 6-4, and Schofield returned the favor with a 6-4 win of her own in the second set. In the third and final stanza, Schofield pushed the lead to 5-4, but Braschi refused to yield, winning the next three games to take the match 7-5.
The Cougars will be right back at it Tuesday afternoon against their third CAA-opponent in a row, when the Drexel Dragons (10-2) come to town for a 1:30 p.m. matchup.
Elon 4, CofC 3
SINGLES
Olivia Lucas def. Liza Fieldsend - 1-6, 7-5, 6-0
Erica Braschi def. Katherine Schofield - 6-4, 4-6, 7-5
Brooke McAmis def. Natalia Janowicz - 6-3, 6-3
Suzanne Zenoni def. Mara Argyriou - 7-6(0), 6-3
Helena Nyikos def. Taylor Casey - 6-2, 6-1
Maria Paraja def. Sarah Jane Jones - 6-0, 7-6(2)
Order of Finish: 3, 5, 1, 6, 4, 2
DOUBLES
Schofield/Argyriou def. Ward/Janowicz - 6-3
McAmis/Nyikos def. Braschi/Casey - 6-4
Fieldsend/Zschunke def. Luca/Zenoni - 7-6(5)
Order of Finish: 1, 2, 3
Players Mentioned
