Women's Tennis Downs Davidson, 4-2
3/31/2012 12:16:00 PM | Women's Tennis
STATESBORO, Ga. - The Georgia Southern Women's Tennis team got back in the winner's circle with a 4-2 home win over Davidson on Saturday afternoon. The Eagles persisted through two rain delays to defeat the visiting Wildcat squad.
Considering the iffy weather forecast, the Eagles (5-12, 2-6 SoCon) began the match with singles play. Allison Beeler (Alpharetta, Ga.) got the Eagles on the board quickly with a 6-1, 6-1 victory over Katherine Dicconson at No. 3 singles. The Wildcats leveled the match at 1-1 when Brites Moniz-Soares downed Caitlin Kitchen (Kennesaw, Ga.) at No. 2 singles. Paola Garrido (Vigo, Spain) put the Eagles back on top by ousting Stephani Synn at No. 1 singles, 6-2, 6-0. The second rain delay of the afternoon then attempted to dampen the Eagles' spirits. However, the Eagle upperclassmen displayed great leadership and perseverance in securing the match victory. Junior Natalie Maffett (Rome, Ga.) stuck with her game plan and disposed of Frizzi Bschorer at No. 6 singles by a 6-4, 6-1 score to put the Eagles up 3-1. Cameron Williams's (Norcross, Ga.) comeback attempt was derailed when she fell 6-1, 6-4 to Nisha Crouser at No. 4 singles, bringing the Wildcats to within striking distance. With the Eagles' hopes on her racket, senior Alessandra Dzuba (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.) thwarted Catherine Wood's comeback attempt when she served out the match to win by a narrow margin of 6-4, 7-5 at No. 5 singles. The win clinched the match victory without the need of the doubles point, so doubles play was canceled due to the uncertain weather conditions.
"I was proud of the way the team came together to pick up a conference win," said Head Coach Amy Bonner. "After the second rain delay, Natalie and Alessandra both had to win their matches to clinch the overall match. I was so proud of them for showing their leadership on the court and never letting up."
The Eagles will look to build off their win over the Wildcats when they host Wofford next Saturday, April 7, at 11 a.m. at Hanner Tennis Complex. The match is also the last home contest of the 2012 season for the women's squad. Senior Day festivities honoring the lone Eagle senior, Dzuba, will take place prior to the match.
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