MT. PLEASANT, S.C. – The College of Charleston women's tennis team tasted a 4-3 defeat at the hands of Marshall (7-8) on Thursday, dropping to 13-10 on the season.
Liza Fieldsend and Sarah Zschunke kicked off the day in third flight doubles action by picking up their fourth win together this season against Marija Bogicevic and Anne Gulsrud by a score of 6-4. Unfortunately, the Cougars fell in the top flights 7-5 and 6-3 respectively, giving Marshall the coveted doubles point.
Fieldsend was again big in singles play for the College, knocking off Derya Turhan 6-2, 6-2 to tie the match up at one all. Marshall would respond with a second flight win, but the Cougars quickly responded with a two-point barrage. Mara Argyriou and Helena Nyikos won the fourth and fifth flights within two minutes of one another over Maddie Silver (6-3, 6-2) and Marija Bogicevic (6-3, 6-2) respectively to put the Cougars up 3-2.
The Thundering Herd's Anna Pomyantinskaya would knot the match up at 3-3 with her 7-5, 6-2 win in the third flight over Brooke McAmis, which set up the sixth flight between Sarah Jane Jones and Anne Gulsrud as the match-point. Jones went down early in the first set, but bounced back late for a gutsy 7-5 win. Gulsrud did not go quietly into the night however, forcing a third set after a 6-2 win in set two.
Jones took the quick 1-0 lead, but Gulsrud answered back with authority, taking four straight games. Refusing to quit, Jones dug deep to not only make up the deficit, but retake the lead at 5-4. It just wasn't quite enough, as Gulsrud fought back to take the next three games for the 7-5 third set win, giving Marshall the win.
The Cougars have had a string of bad luck in tight matches, with seven of their ten losses the result of 4-3 defeats. In fact, the only teams to knock the Cougars off by more decisive margins this year have been nationally ranked.
“I'm proud of the way the ladies fought back today,” Director of Tennis Angelo Anastopoulo said. “I'd like to compliment Mara for coming out and getting a win on a day when she wasn't feeling well, and also Liza, who's shown how much she's improved this year.”
The College plays its final match of the week Friday afternoon at 1 p.m. when it hosts the East Carolina Pirates (12-6). Admission is free of charge. For those unable to attend who wish to watch the action, a live stream will be available at stre.am/cofctennis
Marshall 4, CofC 3
SINGLES
Liza Fieldsend def. Derya Turhan – 6-2, 6-2
Rachael Morales def. Katherine Schofield – 6-4, 6-2
Anna Pomyatinskaya def. Brooke McAmis – 7-5, 6-2
Mara Argyriou def. Maddie Silver – 6-3. 6-2
Helena Nyikos def. Marija Bogicevic – 6-3, 6-2
Anne Gulsrud def. Sarah Jane Jones – 5-7, 6-2, 7-5
Order of Finish: 1, 2, 5, 4, 3, 6
DOUBLES
Turhan/Pomyatinska def. Schofield/Argyriou – 7-5
Silver/Morales def. Nyikos/McAmis – 6-3
Fieldsend/Zschunke def. Bogicevic/Gulsrud – 6-4
Order of Finish: 3, 2, 1
