Beavers' Three Setter Subdues Phoenix, 4-3, in Southern Conference Opener
2/21/2009 5:16:00 AM | Women's Tennis
ELON, N.C. ? Sophomore Ali Beavers lifted the Georgia Southern women’s tennis team past the Elon Phoenix, 4-3, Saturday morning (Feb. 21) to open the Eagles’ Southern Conference schedule with a victory. Georgia Southern avenged a loss to the Phoenix last season with the win that came down to the last court as the Eagles lost the doubles point but rebounded in singles action.
“I’m extremely proud of the way we competed today. To come back after losing the doubles point really showed how hard the team worked,” said head coach Amy Bonner. “I’m proud of what we accomplished today to turn around the loss from last year and come out on top today.”
Georgia Southern (5-3, 1-0) played a tight doubles point as they dropped the first match from the two seed but turned around to claim a win at the three position to leave the decision of the doubles point to the one court. No. 3 Shea Huxtable and Jessica Fuller evened the doubles score with an 8-6 decision over Melissa Wolf and Sally Wilkey. But the doubles point was clinched by the Phoenix at the one seed as Anna Milian and Paige Kensrue broke Eagles Kristi Kegerreis and Beavers to secure an 8-6 victory.
Elon (4-6, 0-1) pushed their lead to 2-0 as Elisa Simonetti surpassed Molly Maddox at the three seed, 6-0, 6-2, just over an hour into singles action. But Melanie Rolle put Georgia Southern on the board as she crushed Wolf from the four position in straight sets, 6-2, 6-4. The Phoenix came within one match to clinch the win after Milian upended Kegerreis, 6-4, 6-2, at the one position, widening the match score to 3-1 Elon’s favor.
From the five position, Fuller pushed the score to 3-2 when she cruised to a 6-1, 6-4 victory over Daleen Kloppers moments before senior Huxtable evened the score 3-all with a 6-1, 7-5 victory at the six seed over Wilkey.
The Phoenix looked to be in good position to clinch the match at the two seed as Kensrue took the first set over Beavers, 7-6(4) and led in the second, 3-2. But Beavers held strong and took four games over Kensrue to claim the second set, 6-4. Beavers clinched the match as she cruised to a 6-2 third set feat in what was a two-hour, 28-minute match battle from the two position.
Georgia Southern continues conference action as they head to UNC Greensboro on Sunday. The match that was originally scheduled for 11 a.m. has been moved to an 8 a.m. start due to inclement weather forecasts. The match will be played indoors at the Piedmont Tennis Club.
GEORGIA SOUTHERN 4, ELON 3
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Jimmy Powell Tennis Center (Elon, N.C.)
Doubles
1 ? Anna Milian/Paige Kensrue (Elon) def. Kristi Kegerreis/Ali Beavers 8-6
2 ? Elisa Simonetti/Daleen Kloppers (Elon) def. Melanie Rolle/Christine Caforio 8-3
3 ? Shea Huxtable/Jessica Fuller (GSU) def. Melissa Wolf/Sally Wilkey 8-6
Order of Finish: 2, 3, 1
Singles
1 ? Anna Milian (Elon) def. Kristi Kegerreis 6-4, 6-2
2 ? Ali Beavers (GSU) def. Paige Kensrue 6-7 (7-4), 6-4, 6-2
3 ? Elisa Simonetti (Elon) def. Molly Maddox 6-0, 6-2
4 ? Melanie Rolle (GSU) def. Melissa Wolf 6-2, 6-4
5 ? Jessica Fuller (GSU) def. Daleen Kloppers 6-1, 6-4
6 ? Shea Huxtable (GSU) def. Sally Wilkey 6-1, 7-5
Order of Finish: 3, 4, 1, 5, 6, 2
Records: GSU 5-3 (1-0 SoCon), Elon 4-6 (0-1 SoCon)
Officials: Bud Spangler, Stan Johnson
