Tuesday, March 14
Mt. Pleasant, S.C.
2:00 PM
College of Charleston
4
vs
3
UMass
Photo by: CofCSports.com
Palaska Puts Away Minutewomen in Fifth-Flight Clincher
3/14/2017 8:12:00 PM | Women's Tennis
MT. PLEASANT, S.C. – With things knotted up at 3-3 and the fate of the match hanging in the balance, freshman Anastasia Palaska was the hero for the College of Charleston women's tennis team (6-4) as she and the Cougars were able to knock off UMass (5-6) and avenge last year's loss.
It was a day full of drama, which began in doubles action. With the Cougars and Minutewomen splitting 6-2 matches on courts one and two, the point came down to court three, where Sarah Jane Jones and Sarah Zschunke faced off with Ashley Avery and Brittany Collens. The match went back and forth all the way to the end, as a tiebreak was needed to settle things. UMass went up 2-0, but CofC responded emphatically, ultimately prevailing 7-6(4) to capture the point for the College.
The Cougars got out to a quick start in singles play and pushed the score to 3-0. Turner Yates was the first one off in court six, as the sophomore dispatched Collens 6-2, 6-2. Right next door in flight four, Rachel McNeely upped her singles record to a team-best 7-3 when she eliminated Anna Woosley 6-3, 6-4.
UMass came charging back, winning three straight matchups in the top three flights. Christi Woodson was able to play Ruth Crawford tight, but her UMass opponent was able to push through 6-4, 7-6(5) to tie the match at 3-3.
All eyes turned to court five, where Palaska faced off with Laura Moreno to decide the match. Moreno won the first set 6-2, and appeared poised to win the match early. But Palaska fought off four match-points to take the second 7-5 and force a third set. Moreno got up early in the third, but Palaska took the lead back when she went up 4-3. She would never again relinquish the advantage, and wound up winning the match 7-5 to hand the Cougars their sixth win of the year.
"It was really a tremendous match against Coach (Judy) Dixon, who's a legend in women's tennis," Director of Tennis Angelo Anastopoulo said. "We did so many good things today that I probably would have been just as proud of the team win or lose. The girls gave a little extra today to help me celebrate my 50th birthday, but the match probably put a few gray hairs on my head."
The Cougars return to action Wednesday, and are slated to host both Samford and Appalachian State at 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. respectively.
CofC 4, UMass 3
SINGLES
Janja Kovacevic (UMass) def. Liza Fieldsend (CofC) ~ 6-4, 6-4
Ruth Crawford (UMass) def. Christi Woodson (CofC) ~ 6-4, 7-6(5)
Ana Yrazusta (UMass) def. Mara Argyriou (CofC) ~ 6-4, 6-1
Rachel McNeely (CofC) def. Anna Woosley (UMass) ~ 6-3, 6-4
Anastasia Palaska (CofC) def. Laura Moreno (UMass) ~ 2-6, 7-5, 7-5
Turner Yates (CofC) def. Brittany Collens (UMass) ~ 6-2, 6-2
Order of Finish: 6, 4, 1, 3, 2, 5*
DOUBLES
Crawford/Woosley (UMass) def. Fieldsend/McNeely (CofC) ~ 6-2
Argyriou/Palaska (CofC) def. Yrazusta/Kovacevic (UMass) ~ 6-2
Jones/Zschunke (CofC) def. Avery/Collens (UMass) ~ 7-6(4)
Order of Finish: 1, 2, 3*
It was a day full of drama, which began in doubles action. With the Cougars and Minutewomen splitting 6-2 matches on courts one and two, the point came down to court three, where Sarah Jane Jones and Sarah Zschunke faced off with Ashley Avery and Brittany Collens. The match went back and forth all the way to the end, as a tiebreak was needed to settle things. UMass went up 2-0, but CofC responded emphatically, ultimately prevailing 7-6(4) to capture the point for the College.
The Cougars got out to a quick start in singles play and pushed the score to 3-0. Turner Yates was the first one off in court six, as the sophomore dispatched Collens 6-2, 6-2. Right next door in flight four, Rachel McNeely upped her singles record to a team-best 7-3 when she eliminated Anna Woosley 6-3, 6-4.
UMass came charging back, winning three straight matchups in the top three flights. Christi Woodson was able to play Ruth Crawford tight, but her UMass opponent was able to push through 6-4, 7-6(5) to tie the match at 3-3.
All eyes turned to court five, where Palaska faced off with Laura Moreno to decide the match. Moreno won the first set 6-2, and appeared poised to win the match early. But Palaska fought off four match-points to take the second 7-5 and force a third set. Moreno got up early in the third, but Palaska took the lead back when she went up 4-3. She would never again relinquish the advantage, and wound up winning the match 7-5 to hand the Cougars their sixth win of the year.
"It was really a tremendous match against Coach (Judy) Dixon, who's a legend in women's tennis," Director of Tennis Angelo Anastopoulo said. "We did so many good things today that I probably would have been just as proud of the team win or lose. The girls gave a little extra today to help me celebrate my 50th birthday, but the match probably put a few gray hairs on my head."
The Cougars return to action Wednesday, and are slated to host both Samford and Appalachian State at 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. respectively.
CofC 4, UMass 3
SINGLES
Janja Kovacevic (UMass) def. Liza Fieldsend (CofC) ~ 6-4, 6-4
Ruth Crawford (UMass) def. Christi Woodson (CofC) ~ 6-4, 7-6(5)
Ana Yrazusta (UMass) def. Mara Argyriou (CofC) ~ 6-4, 6-1
Rachel McNeely (CofC) def. Anna Woosley (UMass) ~ 6-3, 6-4
Anastasia Palaska (CofC) def. Laura Moreno (UMass) ~ 2-6, 7-5, 7-5
Turner Yates (CofC) def. Brittany Collens (UMass) ~ 6-2, 6-2
Order of Finish: 6, 4, 1, 3, 2, 5*
DOUBLES
Crawford/Woosley (UMass) def. Fieldsend/McNeely (CofC) ~ 6-2
Argyriou/Palaska (CofC) def. Yrazusta/Kovacevic (UMass) ~ 6-2
Jones/Zschunke (CofC) def. Avery/Collens (UMass) ~ 7-6(4)
Order of Finish: 1, 2, 3*
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
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