Cougars Succumb 4-1 to JMU in Grueling CAA Semifinal

Saturday, April 21

Elon, N.C. - Jimmy Powell Tennis Center

2:00 PM

College of Charleston

James Madison

Photo by: Al Samuels

Cougars Succumb 4-1 to JMU in Grueling CAA Semifinal

4/21/2018 5:50:00 PM | Women's Tennis

ELON, N.C. – The College of Charleston women's tennis team (17-11) played a grueling three-hour CAA Semifinal match against No. 2 seeded James Madison (21-3) on Saturday, but the Dukes lasted just a little bit longer to pull off the 4-1 win against the Cougars and move on to the CAA Finals.

Doubles play went the way of the Dukes when they took a pair of 6-3 wins on courts one and three. Rachel McNeely and Helena Nyikos looked poised for victory with a 5-4 lead on court two, but the match was left undecided.

It was 140 minutes into the match before either team captured a singles point, but James Madison finally cracked onto the board as Elizabeth Norman overcame Nyikos 6-2, 7-5. Junior Laura Arciniegas made it a perfect 2 for 2 in her CAA Tournament career when she defeated Kimmy Herrock 7-6(3), 6-3, but JMU responded within a few minutes when Jona Roka was able to complete the comeback-win over McNeely 3-6, 6-2, 6-3.

Diane Flament got to play hero for the Dukes when she finished off a 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 slugfest on court five against Turner Yates, which added the deciding fourth point for the Dukes.

Anastasia Palaska and Christi Woodson were both left stranded as a result of the cessation of play. Woodson was working on an incredible comeback effort, coming back from trailing a set and a half against Anna Makarova to winding up knotted up 2-6, 7-6(3), 5-5 heading into the final moments. Palaska meanwhile was engaged in a gripping duel against Emma Petersen, and led her encounter 7-6(2), 0-6, 4-2 when all things were said and done.

All told, the Cougars finished the match going a perfect 3 for 3 in tiebreaks, and finished off another season with a winning record. Director of Tennis Angelo Anastopoulo has now gone 26 of his 27 seasons at the College with a winning record to show for his efforts.

The Dukes will head to tomorrow's CAA Finals to take on the No. 1 seed and No. 42 ranked William & Mary Tribe.

JMU 4, CofC 1

SINGLES
Elizabeth Norman (JMU) def. Helena Nyikos (CofC) ~ 6-2, 7-5
Christi Woodson (CofC) vs. Anna Makarova (JMU) ~ 2-6, 7-6(3), 5-5, DNF
Jona Roka (JMU) def. Rachel McNeely (CofC) ~ 3-6, 6-2, 6-3
Anastasia Palaska (CofC) vs. Emma Petersen (JMU) ~ 7-6(2), 0-6, 4-2, DNF
Diane Flament (JMU) def. Turner Yates (CofC) ~ 6-3, 3-6, 6-1
Laura Arciniegas (CofC) def. Kimmy Herrock (JMU) ~ 7-6(3), 6-3
Order of Finish: 1, 6, 3, 5*
DOUBLES
Amos/Norman (JMU) def. Palaska/Woodson (CofC) ~ 6-3
McNeely/Nyikos (CofC) vs. Makarova/Petersen (JMU) ~ 5-4, DNF
Owns/Roka (JMU) def. Jones/Zschunke (CofC) ~ 6-3
Order of Finish: 3, 1*