BURLINGTON, N.C. – Stacia Kissell and Shannon Bettiol each won in singles, and teamed for a win in doubles, to lead Western Carolina University of the Southern Conference to a 4-3 non-conference women's tennis victory past Longwood University on Friday afternoon in Burlington, North Carolina. Senior
Sarah Moomau/Winchester, along with freshmen
Anna Pelak/McLean and
Mason Thomas/Buchanan Dam, Texas, each won in singles for the Lancers (3-11) against the Catamounts (2-16-1). Longwood will play in the first round of 2014 Big South Conference Women's Tennis Championship in Boiling Springs, North Carolina on Monday, April 14 at 10 a.m.
"What a battle!" said first-year Longwood head coach
Casey Wharton. "I thought we came out a little flat in the beginning of doubles, and we rallied back at the end, but still lost the doubles point. I give a lot of credit to our girls, because bounced back, and we came out ready in singles. Every match, including doubles, was close, it just didn't fall our way.
"But I saw so many good things today, that I am confident I will see again next week in the conference tournament, and since we are going in as an underdog, I think we are excited about making a few upsets! I'm excited that the end of this story is still being written, and the last chapter looks like it will be the best!"
In the match-opening doubles competition, Thomas and senior
Bethany Law/Ona, West Virginia won at No. 3 against Sara Ruiz Pajares and Erin Maguire, 8-4. Junior
Malin Allgurin/Värnamo, Sweden and Moomau fell at No. 1 against Kissell and Bettiol, 4-8, and freshman
Paloma Alatorre/Katy, Texas and Pelak fell at No. 2 against Megan McLinden and Nicole Nielly, 5-8.
In singles play, Moomau won at No. 3 against McLinden, 6-2, 3-6, 10-4; Pelak won at No. 4 against Ruiz Pajares, 6-4, 4-6, 10-6; and Thomas won at No. 5 against Nielly, 7-5, 5-7, 10-7. Allgurin fell at No. 1 against Kissell, 0-6, 2-6; Alatorre fell at No. 2 against Bettiol, 2-6, 5-7; and Law fell at No. 6 against McGuire, 6-3, 4-6, 8-10.
Doubles1. Stacia Kissell/Shannon Bettiol (WCU) def. ALLGURIN, Malin/MOOMAU, Sarah (LONG) 8-4
2. Megan McLinden/Nicole Nielly (WCU) def. ALATORRE, Paloma/PELAK, Anna (LONG) 8-5
3. THOMAS, Mason/LAW, Bethany (LONG) def. Sara Ruiz Pajares/Erin Maguire (WCU) 8-4
Singles1. Stacia Kissell (WCU) def. ALLGURIN, Malin (LONG) 6-0, 6-2
2. Shannon Bettiol (WCU) def. ALATORRE, Paloma (LONG) 6-2, 7-5
3. MOOMAU, Sarah (LONG) def. Megan McLinden (WCU) 6-2, 3-6, 10-4
4. PELAK, Anna (LONG) def. Sara Ruiz Pajares (WCU) 6-4, 4-6, 10-6
5. THOMAS, Mason (LONG) def. Nicole Nielly (WCU) 7-5, 5-7, 10-7
6. Erin Maguire (WCU) def. LAW, Bethany (LONG) 3-6, 6-4, 10-8
