March 21, 2005

Cullowhee, N.C. - The Western Carolina tennis team split a pair of home matches this past weekend, defeating Gardner-Webb (4-3) on Saturday while falling to the College of Charleston (7-0) Sunday on the Courts at Reid Gym.

Versus Gardner-Webb, The Catamounts started the match by winning the doubles point. Trish Hanson and Katherine Ptak teamed up to defeat Melissa DeJong and Molly Hoeffner, 8-6, at number one doubles. In the number two spot, Western's Kristin Cotton and Ashley Harris combined to defeat Monica Walser and Carol Pancia, 8-2.

In singles action, Hanson and Harris cruised in straight sets, winning 6-4, 6-3 and 6-2, 6-1, respectively. Gardner-Webb used wins at number five and six singles to tighten the match. However, WCU junior Ptak secured the team victory by holding off Molly Hoeffner, 6-3, 4-6, 6-2.

On Sunday, the College of Charleston swept all matches to complete the 7-0 win over the Catamounts. The win gave the Cougars their fifth straight victory.

Rachel Magory took the 6-1, 6-1 win over Hanson at number one singles, while Gabriela Moreira won her 10th match in a row with the 6-1, 6-0 victory over Ptak at number two. Maxine Capwell won at number three, going 6-0, 6-3 over Harris. Chelsea Albertz won at the number four spot with the 6-2, 6-4 win over Susanna Sjokvist, while Lauren Stewart played at number five and defeated April Yount 6-1, 6-0.

Moreira and Stewart won the number one doubles and Magory and Capewell took the number two to earn the doubles point for the Cougars.

Western Carolina's match against Chattanooga on Tuesday (Mar. 22) has been moved from 2:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. and will be played at the Hixson Racquet Center because of pending thunderstorms.

WESTERN CAROLINA vs. GARDNER-WEBB

Singles
#1- Trish Hanson (WCU) def. Melissa DeJong (GWU) 6-4, 6-3
#2- Katherine Ptak (WCU) def. Molly Hoeffner (GWU) 6-3, 4-6, 6-2
#3- Monica Walser (GWU) def. Kristin Cotton (WCU 4-6, 6-4, 0-2 (retired)
#4- Ashley Harris (WCU) def. Sara Zirnheld (GWU) 6-2, 6-1
#5- Carol Pancia (GWU) def. Susanna Sjokvist (WCU) 6-1, 6-4
#6- Krystina Sigmon (GWU) def. April Young (WCU) 6-0, 6-1

Doubles
#1- Hanson / Ptak (WCU) def. DeJong / Hoeffner (GWU) 8-6
#2- Cotton / Harris (WCU) def. Walser / Pancia (GWU) 8-2
#3- Zirnheld / Sigmon (GWU) def. Sjokvist / Yount (WCU) 8-2

Records:
Western Carolina - 4-8
Gardner-Webb - 1-15



WWESTERN CAROLINA vs. COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON

Singles
1. Rachel Magory (COFC) def. Trish Hanson (WCU) 6-1, 6-1
2. Gabriela Moreira (COFC) def. Katherine Ptak (WCU) 6-1, 6-0
3. Maxine Capewell (COFC) def. Ashley Harris (WCU) 6-0, 6-3
4. Chelsea Albertz (COFC) def. Susanna Sjokvist (WCU) 6-2, 6-4
5. Lauren Stewart (COFC) def. April Yount (WCU) 6-1, 6-0
6. Priscilla Roberts (COFC) def. Kristin Cotton (WCU), by default

Doubles
1. Moreira/Stewart (COFC) def. Hanson/Ptak (WCU) 8-0
2. Magory/Capewell (COFC) def. Sjokvist/Harris (WCU) 8-1
3. Jenna Marks/Roberts (COFC) def. Cotton/Yount (WCU), by default

Records:
College of Charleston 10-4, 4-1
Western Carolina 4-9, 0-4