Eagles Tame Wildcats, 5-2
3/14/2009 4:22:00 AM | Women's Tennis
STATESBORO, GA ? Georgia Southern ended an eight-match win streak the Davidson Wildcats held over the Eagles in regular season action on Saturday morning (March 14), defeating the Wildcats 5-2 at the Hanner Tennis Complex. The win marked the first time Georgia Southern upended Davidson since a 6-3 victory in 2000. The Southern Conference decision pushed the Eagles to 9-4 overall and 3-1 in conference play, while the Wildcats dropped to 4-6, 0-1.
“We came out ready to play today. I am so proud of the team for the way they competed, the way they worked together and the enthusiasm they brought to the match,” said head coach Amy Bonner.
Due to the chance of inclement weather, singles matches were played first, followed by the doubles action. Singles finished in reverse numerical order as Georgia Southern clinched the match with the first four contests off the court. Senior Shea Huxtable finished first, carrying with her a straight set, 6-3, 6-3, victory over Katherine Dicconson at the six seed. Huxtable remains undefeated in conference action thus far, improving to 4-0 with the win and pushed her win streak to five matches with the decision.
Jessica Fuller and Melanie Rolle wrapped up their matches within minutes of each other, pushing the Eagles' lead to 3-0. Fuller downed Samantha Galainena with identical 6-2 sets before Rolle ousted Ali Gores at the four seed by the same margin. Rolle pushed her win streak to seven matches, improved her overall record to 14-4 and kept her conference slate clean at 4-0 with the win.
Molly Maddox, competing at the three seed, clinched the match for Georgia Southern at 4-0 as she crushed Alison Rauh, 6-2, 6-1. Earning their lone singles victory of the morning, Wildcat Virginia Berry held on for a 6-4, 6-3 victory over Ali Beavers at the two seed before Kristi Kegerreis wrapped up singles action at the one seed. Kegerreis rebounded from dropping the first set 4-6 for a comeback win in the second, 7-5. The match was pushed to a super tiebreak where the Eagle jumped out to the early lead and secured the win with a 10-6 tiebreak decision.
With the match at 5-1 Georgia Southern, doubles action got underway. Davidson clinched the doubles point with victories at the two and three positions. Beavers and Maddox paired up at the one seed to defeat Berry and Rauh, 8-4, for Georgia Southern's lone doubles win.
Georgia Southern is back in action hitting the road for the first time in a month. The Eagles will look to continue this four-match win streak when they travel to face conference foe Western Carolina on Sunday, March 22. First serve is slated for 10 a.m.
Georgia Southern 5, Davidson 2
Doubles:
1. Ali Beavers/Molly Maddox (GSU) d. Virginia Berry/Alison Rauh (DC) 8-4
2. Michele Fanney/Romina Clemente (DC) d. Christine Caforio/Melanie Rolle (GSU) 8-6*
3. Ali Gores/Samantha Galainena (DC) d. Shea Huxtable/Jessica Fuller (GSU) 8-3
Order of finish: 3, 2, 1
*Clinched the doubles point
Singles:
1. Kristi Kegerreis (GSU) d. Michele Fanney (DC) 4-6, 7-5, 10-6
2. Virginia Berry (DC) d. Ali Beavers (GSU) 6-4, 6-3
3. Molly Maddox (GSU) d. Alison Rauh (DC) 6-2, 6-1*
4. Melanie Rolle (GSU) d. Ali Gores (DC) 6-2, 6-2
5. Jessica Fuller (GSU) d. Samantha Galainena (DC) 6-2, 6-2
6. Shea Huxtable (GSU) d. Katharine Dicconson (DC) 6-3, 6-3
Order of finish: 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1
*Clinched the match
