ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Zoe Hamel and Ericka Rivero led UNC Asheville to sweeps in singles and doubles en route to a 7-0 Big South Conference women's tennis victory past Longwood University on Sunday in Asheville, North Carolina. The host Bulldogs (6-2, 1-0 Big South) took six wins in singles and three wins in doubles to earn the victory against the visiting Lancers (2-3, 1-1 Big South). Longwood will remain on the road to play at James Madison University of the Colonial Athletic Association on Thursday, March 6 at 2:30 p.m. in Harrisonburg.
"We gave it all we had today, and it just wasn't enough," said first-year Longwood head coach
Casey Wharton. "We fought hard, and we did it with class, but at the end of it, Asheville was just the better team today. They play really good doubles, but in singles, I do believe that we matched up well with them; we just didn't win enough of the big points. But, if we play them again, I think it could easily fall in our favor. We will take a few days off to recharge our batteries, and then come back at it hard on Wednesday, to prepare for JMU."
In the match-opening doubles competition, junior
Malin Allgurin/Värnamo, Sweden and senior
Sarah Moomau/Winchester fell at No. 1 against Hamel and Rivero, 4-8, while freshmen
Paloma Alatorre/Katy, Texas and
Anna Pelak/McLean fell at No. 2 against Amryn Solider and Christina Boissevain, 5-8, and freshman
Mason Thomas/Buchanan Dam, Texas and senior
Bethany Law/Ona, West Virginia fell at No. 3 against Gillian Lewis and Emily McNall, 3-8.
In singles play, Allgurin fell at No. 1 against Hamel, 1-6, 1-6. Alatorre fell at No. 2 against Rivero, 4-6, 3-6. Moomau fell at No. 3 against Soldier, 5-7, 2-6. Pelak fell at No. 4 against Boissevain, 2-6, 4-6. Thomas fell at No. 5 against Lewis, 6-7 (2), 4-6. Law fell at No. 6 against McNall, 0-6, 0-6.
Doubles
1. Ericka Rivero-Zoe Hamel (UNCA) def. Allgurin/Moomau, 8-4
2. Christina Boissevain-Amryn Solider (UNCA) def. Alatorre/Pelak, 8-5
3. Emily McNall-Gillian Lewis (UNCA) def. Law/Thomas, 8-3
Singles
1. Zoe Hamel (UNCA) def. Allgurin, 6-1, 6-1
2. Ericka Rivero (UNCA) def. Alatorre, 6-4, 6-3
3. Amryn Soldier (UNCA) def. Moomau, 7-5, 6-2
4. Christina Boissevain (UNCA) def. Pelak, 6-2, 6-4
5. Gillian Lewis (UNCA) def. Thomas, 7-6 (2) 6-4
6. Emily McNall (UNCA) def. Law, 6-0, 6-0
