Feb. 8, 2009
Final Stats
ASHEVILLE, N.C. - The Owls early season frustrations continued Saturday when they fell to UNC Asheville at the UNCA Tennis Complex. After starting the season with a 7-0 sweep of Savannah State, the Owls have dropped three straight including Saturday's 4-3 loss to the Bulldogs.
UNCA jumped out to the early lead, winning the doubles point after taking two of three matches. Agatha Palider and MacKenzie Swindall teamed up at No. 3 for the Owls lone win in the doubles competition. The 8-4 win over Tess Darling and Nicole Schon was the duo's second win of the road trip and ran their record to 2-1 as team.
"Mackenzie and Agatha won their second doubles match of the weekend, but we continue to struggle at No. 1 and No. 2," said Kennesaw State Assistant Coach Pavla Mesterova. "The girls fought hard in singles, but losing the doubles point proved to be crucial."
Swindall also earned her first career singles dual match victory in the Owls loss, defeating Tanya Mateva 6-2, 6-3 at No. 6 in the last match of the day. Joining Swindall in earning her first collegiate victory was 16-year-old freshman Alena Sergeychik, who straight-setted Louise Bottomley 6-4, 6-1 at No. 5.
Vera Shkundina rebounded from her first loss of the season to claim her third singles win in four attempts. Shkundina looked refocused on Saturday, eliminating UNCA's top player, Leslie Smith, 6-2, 6-2 at No. 1 singles.
The middle of the Owls lineup didn't fare as well, allowing the Bulldogs to solidify the win after taking the points at the 2, 3 and 4 spots.
Mercedes Cobos was denied her first singles win of the season after losing 6-3, 5-7, 6-0 to Nicole Schon at No. 3 while Ayano Tanaka couldn't produce her second win of the trip, falling 6-2, 6-0 to Devon Cavanaugh at No. 2. Rounding out the action was Morgan Carney who also fell short of her second-straight singles win, losing 6-4, 6-4 to Stephanie Schon at No. 4.
"Losing another 4-3 match is disappointing," added Mesterova. "We will continue to work on doubles and hopefully come up with a lineup that can be successful before the conference season starts."
The Owls will look to get back on track when they return to the KSU Tennis Complex on Friday February 13th for a match with Alabama A&M. Jacksonville State will follow A&M into town as they are scheduled for a Valentine's Day showdown with the Black and Gold.
Stay tuned to www.ksuowls.com for breaking news and updates of the Kennesaw State women's tennis program and the Black and Gold's other teams.
UNCA 4, KSU 3
Doubles Results
1) Smith/S. Schon (UNCA) d. Shkundina/Tanaka (KSU) 8-3
2) Bottomley/Cavanaugh (UNCA) d. Carney/Cobos (KSU) 8-3
3) Palider/Swindall (KSU) d. N. Schon/Darling (UNCA) 8-4
Singles Results
1) Vera Shkundina (KSU) d. Leslie Smith (UNCA) 6-2, 6-2
2) Devon Cavanaugh (UNCA) d. Ayano Tanaka (KSU) 6-2, 6-0
3) Nicole Schon (UNCA) d. Mercedes Cobos (KSU) 6-3, 5-7, 6-0
4) Stephanie Schon (UNCA) d. Morgan Carney (KSU) 6-4, 6-4
5) Alena Sergeychik (KSU) d. Louise Bottomley (UNCA) 6-4, 6-1
6) MacKenzie Swindall (KSU) d. Tania Mateva (UNCA) 6-2, 6-3
Exhibition: Lindsay Dillon (KSU) d. Tess Darling (UNCA) 7-6, 6-4
