Feb. 19, 2005

Cullowhee, N.C. - Western Carolina women's tennis team tallied victories in the first and third singles slots, as well as earned the doubles point, but fell short in its 2005 home opener, falling 4-3 to Presbyterian College Saturday afternoon in non-conference action.

For Western (0-4), freshman Tricia Hanson captured her first-career number one singles victory, defeating Presbyterian's Catherine Bankhead in straight sets, 6-1, 6-1. Also tallying a singles win for the Catamounts was senior captain Kristen Cotton. The Clemson, S.C., native evened her season record at 2-2 with the 6-1, 6-3 tally over PC's Elise Netzler.

Despite dropping the third pairing, Western earned the doubles point when Cotton teamed with freshman Ashley Harris, who had her singles record evened at 2-2 with a loss on Saturday, to win the second-seed doubles, 9-8. Hanson and junior Katherine Ptak won the first doubles match to edge the Blue Hose to earn the point. On the season, both the teams of Cotton/Harris and Hanson/Ptak are 2-2 overall in doubles competition.

Western returns to action in a tournament at Hilton Head, S.C., on February 28 through March 2. The Catamounts will battle St. John's on the 28th, followed by matches with Bridgewater and Mercyhurst Colleges on the first two days of March. After the spring break trip, the Cats will return home to host their longest homestand of the season -- four matches over six days, March 8-13.

Presbyterian 4, Western Carolina 3


Singles

1. Tricia Hanson (WCU) d. Catherine Bankhead (Presby) 6-1, 6-1
2. Lauren Brown (Presby) d. Katherine Ptak (WCU)  6-4, 6-1
3. Kristin Cotton (WCU) d. Elise Netzler 6-1, 6-3
4. Taylor Lynch (Presby) d. Ashley Harris (WCU) 6-4, 6-0
5. Lisa Moyer (Presby) d. Susanna Sjokvist (WCU) 6-1, 6-1
6. Amanda Floyd (Presby) d. April Yount (WCU) 6-0, 6-0

Doubles

1. Hanson-Ptak (WCU) d. Bankhead-Lynch (Presby) 9-8 (3)
2. Cotton-Harris (WCU) d. Brown-Kari Fuller (Presby), 8-2
3. Floyd-Netzler d. Yount-Sjokvist (WCU), 8-2