Jan. 25, 2009
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KENNESAW, Ga. - The Kennesaw State women's tennis team jumped right into their spring dual match season Sunday, splitting a home doubleheader by sweeping Savannah State in the morning before getting edged 4-3 by Georgia Southern in the second match of the day.
"This was a good way to start our season," said Kennesaw State Director of Tennis Operations T.J. Greggs on Sunday's action. "We picked up a win in the morning and fought hard in the afternoon with a team that dominated us just a year ago."
16-year-old freshman Vera Shkundina started the spring in the same glorious fashion as she did the fall, winning all four of her matches, including both of her matches at the number one singles spot. Shkundina, who won the A2 front draw at the Steve Baras Fall Classic in her first ever collegiate event, dropped only five total games en route to straight-set sweeps of both of her singles opponents.
The Ufa, Russia native cruised past Savannah State's Angela Palmer 6-0, 6-0 in her first match before earning the Owls a point with a 6-3, 6-2 win over GSU's Kristi Kegerreis. She also partnered with Lindsay Dillon to beat SSU's duo of Shawannda McClain and Para Malden 8-0 in the morning before teaming with fellow Russian Alena Sergeychik to earn the Owls lone doubles point against the Eagles.
"Vera had two dominating wins at No. 1 today," added Greggs. "Alena and Vera also beat a solid doubles team."
The remainder of the Owls squad was equally as dominant in the first match, dropping only one total game in the 7-0 win over the Tigers. The Black and Gold swept all three doubles matches, including freshmen Courtney Cox and Morgan Carney combining at the number three spot for their first collegiate dual match doubles win. Cox and Carney also earned their first singles victories to help KSU earn their third-straight win over the Tigers.
The afternoon match with Georgia Southern was much tighter, remaining close from beginning to end. The match came down to a tiebreaker in the number one spot after Shkundina and Sergeychik won 8-5 at No. 3 and Agatha Palider and MacKenzie Swindall fell 8-4 at No. 2.
Mercedes Cobos and Ayano Tanaka jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead before the Eagles' duo of Kegerreis and Molly Maddox pulled even. After a race to eight points couldn't settle the match, GSU's top duo pulled ahead and held off the Owls to win 9-8 and give the Eagles an early 1-0 lead.
The Owls quickly evened the match at 1-1 after Tanaka's opponent, Maddox, retired in the first game of the No. 3 competition due to an injury. Agatha Palider won her second match of the day to give KSU their third point, taking down Jessica Fuller 6-3, 6-2 at No.5 in what proved to be the longest match of the day.
Carney couldn't capture her second singles win of the day, as she fell 6-3, 6-4 to Melanie Rolle at No. 4. MacKenzie Swindall was denied her first collegiate dual match victory, losing 6-2, 6-3 to Christine Caforio at No. 6 after playing an uncharacteristic match.
Cobos, the Owls lone senior, battled Ali Beavers hard at No. 2 but couldn't find a way to push through for the victory, eventually falling 6-3, 6-3. It was a marked improvement over KSU's showing against Southern last season when they were swept 7-0.
"Last season we won one set against GSU, and this year we were able to win four of the nine matches played," concluded Greggs. "It shows how far we've come as a team, and I am looking forward to this season with optimism. Southern is a solid team, and for us to start four freshmen today and still come within a tiebreaker of winning the overall match
shows great progress."
The Owls next match will be on the road as they are set to face Presbyterian at 2 p.m. on February 6th in Clinton, S.C. Stay tuned to www.ksuowls.com for updated stats and breaking news on the Kennesaw State women's tennis program.
