Friday, April 20
Burlington, N.C. - Burlington Tennis Center
1:00 PM
College of Charleston
4
vs
1
Delaware
Photo by: Al Samuels
Anastopoulo Records 500th Career Women’s Tennis Victory as Cougars Cruise to CAA Semifinals
4/20/2018 8:53:00 PM | Women's Tennis
BURLINGTON, N.C. – The College of Charleston women's tennis team (17-10) is heading to the CAA semifinals on Saturday thanks to a 4-1 victory over the No. 3 seeded University of Delaware Blue Hens (12-6), which resulted in CofC Director of Tennis Angelo Anastopoulo picking up his 500thvictory as a women's tennis coach.
The Cougars will move on to the CAA Semifinals against No. 2 seeded James Madison (20-3) at 2 p.m. at Elon's Jimmy Powell Tennis Center.
Doubles play against the Hens was as hotly contested as it has been all season for the Cougars, and at one point UD held a narrow 4-3 edge on all four courts. The Hens struck first with a 6-4 win in the top flight, but seniors Rachel McNeely and Helena Nyikos came from behind to tie the point at 1-1 when they defeated Sarah Hall and Amanda Studnicki 7-5 on court two. That set up a clinching showdown on court three between Laura Arciniegas and Turner Yates for the Cougars and Sarah Whited and Draga Sabotic for UD. The teams played to a deep tiebreak, but the Blue Hens were able to hang on for the point with the 7-6(7) decision.
The Cougars fired back with gusto after surrendering the doubles point, and picked up their first point in a most-unexpected place. UD sophomore Brooke Pilkington entered the contest boasting an imposing 14-2 record at the No. 1 position. Nonetheless, senior Helena Nyikos more than rose to the occasion, blowing by her vaunted opponent 6-2, 6-2. Just 15 seconds later, Palaska had vanquished Annie Jaskulski 6-1, 6-3, and just like that, the Cougars seized the 2-1 lead.
CofC continued its winning ways over the next 20 minutes, and that sealed the deal for the Cougars. Christi Woodson finished off Sara Komer 6-2, 7-5 on court two, and junior Laura Arciniegas picked up the decisive fourth point on court six, where she overcame Sarah Whited 6-3, 6-3. The Cougars also had an insurance policy in place, as Rachel McNeely was set to enter a potentially match-winning tiebreak leading 6-3, 6-6 on court three.
"I'm really proud of our team today for how they responded to coming up a little bit short in doubles," Director of Tennis Angelo Anastopoulo said. "It's special to do this in the postseason against a very well-coached team like Delaware, and we hope we can do it all over again against JMU tomorrow."
Anastopoulo establishes a class unto himself as the only NCAA Division I women's tennis coach within the State of South Carolina to ever reach the 500-win milestone. Anastopoulo has been with the College since 1992, and until 2001, serves as head coach for both the men's and women's programs. His overall combined win total stands at 672.
"I'd like to dedicate this milestone to (former USC head coach) Arlo Elkins who passed at too young of an age. He was really the first one who should have reached 500 wins, so this is in his honor," Anastopoulo said.
The Cougars now set their sites on a James Madison team that was able to eliminate UNCW (1-12) 4-0 on Friday. However, the score was not as lopsided as it might appear. Not only did UNCW seize the early momentum in doubles play before JMU corrected ship, but they had forced two third-sets and were on the verge of winning another match in a tiebreak in the three unfinished singles matches. Nonetheless, James Madison put together a sterling regular season at 20-3, which included a 5-1 clip against conference opponents. The Cougars and Dukes were originally supposed to play in a regular season tilt at Patriots Point earlier this year, but the match wound up being rained out.
Live stats will be made available courtesy of CAA Sports.
CofC 4, UD 1
SINGLES
Helena Nyikos (CofC) def. Brooke Pilkington (UD) ~ 6-2, 6-2
Christi Woodson (CofC) def. Sara Komer (UD) ~ 6-2, 7-5
Rachel McNeely (CofC) vs. Amanda Studnicki (UD) ~ 6-3, 6-6, DNF
Anastasia Palaska (CofC) def. Annie Jaskulski (UD) ~ 6-1, 6-3
Turner Yates (CofC) vs. Sarah Hall (UD) ~ 2-6, 3-5, DNF
Laura Arciniegas (CofC) def. Sarah Whited (UD) ~ 6-3, 6-3
Order of Finish: 1, 4, 2, 6*
DOUBLES
Komer/Pilkington (UD) def. Palaska/Woodson (CofC) ~ 6-4
McNeely/Nyikos (CofC) def. Hall/Studnicki (UD) ~ 7-5
Sabotic/Whited (UD) def. Arciniegas/Yates (CofC) ~ 7-6(7)
Order of Finish: 1, 2, 3*
The Cougars will move on to the CAA Semifinals against No. 2 seeded James Madison (20-3) at 2 p.m. at Elon's Jimmy Powell Tennis Center.
Doubles play against the Hens was as hotly contested as it has been all season for the Cougars, and at one point UD held a narrow 4-3 edge on all four courts. The Hens struck first with a 6-4 win in the top flight, but seniors Rachel McNeely and Helena Nyikos came from behind to tie the point at 1-1 when they defeated Sarah Hall and Amanda Studnicki 7-5 on court two. That set up a clinching showdown on court three between Laura Arciniegas and Turner Yates for the Cougars and Sarah Whited and Draga Sabotic for UD. The teams played to a deep tiebreak, but the Blue Hens were able to hang on for the point with the 7-6(7) decision.
The Cougars fired back with gusto after surrendering the doubles point, and picked up their first point in a most-unexpected place. UD sophomore Brooke Pilkington entered the contest boasting an imposing 14-2 record at the No. 1 position. Nonetheless, senior Helena Nyikos more than rose to the occasion, blowing by her vaunted opponent 6-2, 6-2. Just 15 seconds later, Palaska had vanquished Annie Jaskulski 6-1, 6-3, and just like that, the Cougars seized the 2-1 lead.
CofC continued its winning ways over the next 20 minutes, and that sealed the deal for the Cougars. Christi Woodson finished off Sara Komer 6-2, 7-5 on court two, and junior Laura Arciniegas picked up the decisive fourth point on court six, where she overcame Sarah Whited 6-3, 6-3. The Cougars also had an insurance policy in place, as Rachel McNeely was set to enter a potentially match-winning tiebreak leading 6-3, 6-6 on court three.
"I'm really proud of our team today for how they responded to coming up a little bit short in doubles," Director of Tennis Angelo Anastopoulo said. "It's special to do this in the postseason against a very well-coached team like Delaware, and we hope we can do it all over again against JMU tomorrow."
Anastopoulo establishes a class unto himself as the only NCAA Division I women's tennis coach within the State of South Carolina to ever reach the 500-win milestone. Anastopoulo has been with the College since 1992, and until 2001, serves as head coach for both the men's and women's programs. His overall combined win total stands at 672.
"I'd like to dedicate this milestone to (former USC head coach) Arlo Elkins who passed at too young of an age. He was really the first one who should have reached 500 wins, so this is in his honor," Anastopoulo said.
The Cougars now set their sites on a James Madison team that was able to eliminate UNCW (1-12) 4-0 on Friday. However, the score was not as lopsided as it might appear. Not only did UNCW seize the early momentum in doubles play before JMU corrected ship, but they had forced two third-sets and were on the verge of winning another match in a tiebreak in the three unfinished singles matches. Nonetheless, James Madison put together a sterling regular season at 20-3, which included a 5-1 clip against conference opponents. The Cougars and Dukes were originally supposed to play in a regular season tilt at Patriots Point earlier this year, but the match wound up being rained out.
Live stats will be made available courtesy of CAA Sports.
CofC 4, UD 1
SINGLES
Helena Nyikos (CofC) def. Brooke Pilkington (UD) ~ 6-2, 6-2
Christi Woodson (CofC) def. Sara Komer (UD) ~ 6-2, 7-5
Rachel McNeely (CofC) vs. Amanda Studnicki (UD) ~ 6-3, 6-6, DNF
Anastasia Palaska (CofC) def. Annie Jaskulski (UD) ~ 6-1, 6-3
Turner Yates (CofC) vs. Sarah Hall (UD) ~ 2-6, 3-5, DNF
Laura Arciniegas (CofC) def. Sarah Whited (UD) ~ 6-3, 6-3
Order of Finish: 1, 4, 2, 6*
DOUBLES
Komer/Pilkington (UD) def. Palaska/Woodson (CofC) ~ 6-4
McNeely/Nyikos (CofC) def. Hall/Studnicki (UD) ~ 7-5
Sabotic/Whited (UD) def. Arciniegas/Yates (CofC) ~ 7-6(7)
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
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