CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The College of Charleston women's tennis team (4-1) extended its winning streak to three games on Friday, holding on against a late Charlotte (2-3) comeback to defeat the 49ers 4-3.
The Cougars went 2-1 in doubles play, sweeping through flight one 6-0 before dropping in flight two 6-2. The point came down to the third court, where
Turner Yates and
Laura Arciniegas dispatched Alexandra Lee and Zoe Radojicic 6-4 to put CofC up 1-0. In order to pull that off, Yates and Arciniegas had to bounce back from a 1-4 deficit, taking five consecutive games to finish the comeback.
The Cougars quickly pushed their lead to 3-0 thanks to their prowess in the lower flights. Yates drew first blood, knocking off Megan Smith 6-0, 6-4, and
Catalina Medici quickly followed that up with a 6-2, 6-2 win in flight six.
With their backs against the ropes, Charlotte fought back valiantly, digging out a pair of three-set wins in the upper flights as well as a flight four win over
Anastasia Palaska to knot things up at 3-3.
That set up a match-clinching encounter between
Rachel McNeely and Rocio Safont on court three. Safont seized the early momentum with a 6-1 first set, followed by a McNeely rebound in the form of a 6-3 win in set two. When the dust settled at the end of the third, it was McNeely and the Cougars who stood victorious as the result of a 7-5 win.
The Cougars have over a week to bask in their victory before they finish off their road trip next Saturday in Tallahassee, Fla. against Florida A&M.
CofC 4, Charlotte 3
SINGLES
Tai Martin (CHA) def.
Helena Nyikos (CofC) ~ 3-6, 6-3, 6-1
Alexandra Lee (CHA) def.
Christi Woodson (CofC) ~ 6-4, 6-7, 6-1
Rachel McNeely (CofC) def. Rocio Safont (CHA) ~ 1-6, 6-3, 7-5
Pierina Imparato (CHA) def.
Anastasia Palaska (CofC) ~ 6-4, 7-5
Turner Yates (CofC) def. Megan Smith (CHA) ~ 6-0, 6-4
Catalina Medici (CofC) def. Zoe Radojicic (CHA) ~ 6-2, 6-2
Order of Finish: 5, 6, 4, 1, 2, 3
DOUBLES
Palaska/Woodson (CofC) def. Martin/Cowper (CHA) ~ 6-0
Imparato/Scott (CHA) def. Nyikos/McNeely (CofC) ~ 6-2
Yates/Arciniegas (CofC) def. Lee/Radojicic (CHA) ~ 6-4
Order of Finish: 1, 2, 3
