FARMVILLE, Va. – Longwood sophomore Anna Pelak won at No. 2 doubles and singles to propel Longwood to a 5-2 win over St. Joe's Thursday afternoon at Lancer Courts.
 
Playing at home for only the second time this season and first time since Feb. 7, Longwood (6-7) took down a St. Joe's team that was coming off a dominant 6-1 win over Saint Francis. Pelak was the spark that ignited the runaway victory, pairing with Nicole Parker to win at No. 2 doubles, 8-7 (5), over Claire Minnoe and Maureen Devlin, and following with a straight-sets win at No. 2 singles, 6-2, 6-3, over Minnoe.
 
The win was Longwood's third in the past five matches and the second straight home under first-year head coach Bruce Myers. Longwood is now 4-1 when playing outdoors this season.
 
Pelak, who played at No. 4 as a freshman, has stepped into the No. 2 slot for the Lancers this season as a sophomore. The win snapped a nine-match skid for the McLean, Va., native and came in straight sets against the undefeated Minnoe.
 
"It was great to have Anna win the deciding match today," Myers said. "We have worked on so many things with her since this fall, and it's been quite a process for her to get to this point. I am proud that she has really battled the last few matches, and beating a girl who was undefeated this year is just incredible."
 
Pelak led a charge that included singles wins at Nos. 2, 3, 4 and 5 and helped offset a loss at No. 1 singles by Lancer ace and all-time wins record chaser Malin Allgurin. Pelak and Nicole Parker handled business at No. 2 doubles, clinching the first point following an 8-5 win at No. 3 from Maria Coronel and Mason Thomas.
 
Paloma Alatorre followed with a 7-5, 6-4 win at No. 4 Singles, and Coronel and Thomas carried that momentum with wins at No. 3 and No. 5, respectively. Both wins came in three-set affairs in which Thomas rebounded from a 6-1 opening-set loss to win the final two sets, 6-2, 6-3, and improve to a team-best 9-4 on the season. Coronel, meanwhile bookended her three-set victory with wins of 6-3 and 6-2 for her fifth victory of the year.
 
"St. Joe's is a very talented team that fields a roster double our size," said. "It was a big advantage for us playing them outdoors. It was great to see the team rally behind Malin Allgurin, who had a tough match at No. 1 singles."
 
Next up for Longwood is the first of three consecutive Big South matchups, beginning Saturday at Charleston Southern at 2 p.m. That road trip will turn into a two-day affairs as the Lancers head north up Highway 17 to face Coastal Carolina Sunday at 1 p.m. in Conway, S.C.
 
Longwood 5, St. Joe's 2
March 12, 2015
Farmville, Va. (Lancer Courts)
 
Doubles
No. 1: Malin Allgurin/Paloma Alatorre (LWU) vs. Aurora Davis/Alex Zachem DNF
No. 2: Anna Pelak/Nicole Parker (LWU) def. Claire Minnoe/Maureen Devlin 8-7 (5)
No. 3: Mason Thomas/Maria Coronel (LWU) def. Kristina Eisenbrand/Sarah Contrata 8-5
 
Singles
No. 1: Aurora Davis (STJ) def. Malin Allgurin 6-3, 6-2
No. 2: Anna Pelak (LWU) def. Claire Minnoe 6-7 (5), 6-2, 6-3
No. 3: Maria Coronel (LWU) def. Kristina Eisenbrand 6-3, 4-6, 6-2
No. 4: Paloma Alatorre (LWU) def. Maureen Devlin 7-5, 6-4
No. 5: Mason Thomas (LWU) def. Alex Zachem 1-6, 6-2, 6-3
No. 6: Arianne Polatnick (STJ) def. Nicole Parker 6-3, 6-2
 
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