Eagles Sweep Doubleheader by Downing Florida A&M
3/2/2012 2:20:00 PM | Women's Tennis
STATESBORO, Ga. - The Georgia Southern Women's Tennis team had a big day on Friday, picking up wins in both of their matches at Hanner Tennis Complex. They defeated Florida A&M, 5-2, in the afternoon session after completing their conference win against Western Carolina in the morning. The Eagles were initially not scheduled to play at all on Friday. The morning match was carried over from yesterday's rain-shortened affair, while the afternoon match was moved up from Saturday due to a forecast of heavy rain.
"Concluding our match with Western Carolina this morning, then going back out to take on Florida A&M, made for a long day of tennis," said Head Coach Amy Bonner. "I was proud of the team for coming out strong in both matches. I thought our doubles play was strong this afternoon, and it was great to come away with both our first Southern Conference victory as well as a win against a non-conference school."
The Eagles (4-4) began the match with Florida A&M well by sweeping the three doubles matches. Natalie Maffett (Rome, Ga.), out nearly a month with an injury, came back strong with partner Alexis Prickett (Charleston, S.C.) in picking up an 8-5 win at No. 1 doubles. Paola Garrido (Vigo, Spain) and Mimi Bollaci (Atlanta, Ga.) won by an 8-2 score at No. 2 doubles, while Cameron Williams (Norcross, Ga.) and Alessandra Dzuba (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.) won at No. 3 doubles by an 8-1 score.
The Eagles backed up their strong doubles play with four singles victories. Allison Beeler (Alpharetta, Ga.) defeated her opponent at No. 3 singles by a 6-1, 6-2 score. Garrido picked up her second singles win of the day at No. 1 singles with a score of 6-1, 6-1. With the match score at 3-2, Williams clinched the win for the Eagles at No. 4 singles by winning, 6-3, 6-3. Scottie French (St. Augustine, Fla.), making her collegiate singles debut, also grinded out a win at No. 5 singles in a third-set match tiebreaker, 6-2, 6-7 (7-5), 10-8.
The Eagles will look to sweep their three-game homestand when they take the courts on Tuesday against visiting Campbell University. First serve is set for 2 p.m. at Hanner Tennis Complex.
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