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University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
Friday, March 6
Asheville
2 p.m.
UNC Asheville
4
vs
3
Winthrop
Photo by: Adrian Etheridge
Bulldogs Halt Eagles for Second Straight Conference Victory
03.06.2020 | Women's Tennis
ASHEVILLE – UNC Asheville's women's tennis team came back against reigning Big South Conference champion Winthrop for a 4-2 victory, Friday afternoon, at the Asheville Racquet Club.
The Eagles (2-7, 1-1 Big South) took a 1-0 lead in the dual, winning doubles matches at No. 1 and No. 2. However, the senior tandem of Emily Sidor and Lauren Watson-Steele won their ninth match of the season at the No. 3 spot, taking down Samantha Naner and Angela Georgieve, 7-6.
Winthrop built on its lead, going up 2-0 with a victory at the No. 1 singles draw. Sidor got the Bulldogs (8-2, 2-0 Big South) on the board with a 6-3, 6-4 triumph at the No. 3 spot against Tayla Van Eck.
Freshman Ami Grace Dougah secured a critical victory to tie the dual at 2-2, taking down Rafaela Santos in three sets at the No. 2 spot. Dougah cruised in the first set, 6-1, but Santos came back to earn a tough 7-5 result in the second. With Winthrop potentially a point away from victory, Dougah instead leveled the score with a 6-4 third-set win.
Another freshman, Rosie Dickson, put the Bulldogs ahead for the first time, taking down Samantha Nanere, 6-1, 6-2, at the No. 5 spot.
Watson-Steele had the opportunity to close things out for the Bulldogs, playing in the No. 4 draw against Alexandra Ferreira Da Silva. Watson-Steele won the first set, 6-4, but dropped the second, 6-2. Trailing 5-4 in the decisive third, the senior Bulldog rallied to take the set, 7-5, and secure a second straight victory to open conference play.
"I'm so happy for the team and so proud of the team," head coach Lise Gregory said.
The Bulldogs will have a little more than a week of rest and recovery before welcoming Campbell to town, Sunday, March 15.
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UNC Asheville 4, Winthrop 2
SINGLES
1. Alisa Soloveva (WU) def. MORKEL, Lize Alet (AVL-W) 6-3, 6-3
2. DOUGAH, Ami Grace (AVL-W) def. Rafaela Santos (WU) 6-1, 5-7, 6-4
3. SIDOR, Emily (AVL-W) def. Tayla Van Eck (WU) 6-3, 6-4
4. WATSON-STEELE, Laure (AVL-W) def. A. Ferreira Da Silva (WU) 6-4, 2-6, 7-5
5. DICKSON, Rosie (AVL-W) def. Samantha Nanere (WU) 6-1, 6-2
6. HORVAT, Anastasia (AVL-W) vs. Angela Georgieva (WU) 3-4, unfinished
DOUBLES
1. Tayla Van Eck/A. Ferreira Da Silva (WU) def. MORKEL, Lize Alet/DICKSON, Rosie (AVL-W) 6-2
2. Alisa Soloveva/Rafaela Santos (WU) def. TARANTO, Brianna/DOUGAH, Ami Grace (AVL-W) 7-5
3. SIDOR, Emily/WATSON-STEELE, Laure (AVL-W) def. Samantha Nanere/Angela Georgieva (WU) 7-6
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The Eagles (2-7, 1-1 Big South) took a 1-0 lead in the dual, winning doubles matches at No. 1 and No. 2. However, the senior tandem of Emily Sidor and Lauren Watson-Steele won their ninth match of the season at the No. 3 spot, taking down Samantha Naner and Angela Georgieve, 7-6.
Winthrop built on its lead, going up 2-0 with a victory at the No. 1 singles draw. Sidor got the Bulldogs (8-2, 2-0 Big South) on the board with a 6-3, 6-4 triumph at the No. 3 spot against Tayla Van Eck.
Freshman Ami Grace Dougah secured a critical victory to tie the dual at 2-2, taking down Rafaela Santos in three sets at the No. 2 spot. Dougah cruised in the first set, 6-1, but Santos came back to earn a tough 7-5 result in the second. With Winthrop potentially a point away from victory, Dougah instead leveled the score with a 6-4 third-set win.
Another freshman, Rosie Dickson, put the Bulldogs ahead for the first time, taking down Samantha Nanere, 6-1, 6-2, at the No. 5 spot.
Watson-Steele had the opportunity to close things out for the Bulldogs, playing in the No. 4 draw against Alexandra Ferreira Da Silva. Watson-Steele won the first set, 6-4, but dropped the second, 6-2. Trailing 5-4 in the decisive third, the senior Bulldog rallied to take the set, 7-5, and secure a second straight victory to open conference play.
"I'm so happy for the team and so proud of the team," head coach Lise Gregory said.
The Bulldogs will have a little more than a week of rest and recovery before welcoming Campbell to town, Sunday, March 15.
Â
UNC Asheville 4, Winthrop 2
SINGLES
1. Alisa Soloveva (WU) def. MORKEL, Lize Alet (AVL-W) 6-3, 6-3
2. DOUGAH, Ami Grace (AVL-W) def. Rafaela Santos (WU) 6-1, 5-7, 6-4
3. SIDOR, Emily (AVL-W) def. Tayla Van Eck (WU) 6-3, 6-4
4. WATSON-STEELE, Laure (AVL-W) def. A. Ferreira Da Silva (WU) 6-4, 2-6, 7-5
5. DICKSON, Rosie (AVL-W) def. Samantha Nanere (WU) 6-1, 6-2
6. HORVAT, Anastasia (AVL-W) vs. Angela Georgieva (WU) 3-4, unfinished
DOUBLES
1. Tayla Van Eck/A. Ferreira Da Silva (WU) def. MORKEL, Lize Alet/DICKSON, Rosie (AVL-W) 6-2
2. Alisa Soloveva/Rafaela Santos (WU) def. TARANTO, Brianna/DOUGAH, Ami Grace (AVL-W) 7-5
3. SIDOR, Emily/WATSON-STEELE, Laure (AVL-W) def. Samantha Nanere/Angela Georgieva (WU) 7-6
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Team Stats
#1 Doubles Match
#2 Doubles Match
#3 Doubles Match
#1 Singles Match
12
Alisa Soloveva / 0 [WU]
66
33
#2 Singles Match
123
Rafaela Santos / 0 [WU]
174
656
#3 Singles Match
12
Tayla Van Eck / 0 [WU]
34
66
#4 Singles Match
123
A. Ferreira Da Silva / 0 [WU]
465
627
#5 Singles Match
12
Samantha Nanere / 0 [WU]
12
66
#6 Singles Match
1
Angela Georgieva / 0 [WU]
5
3
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
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