April 21, 2005

Charleston, S.C. - The Western Carolina women's tennis team concluded its 2004-05 season with a 4-0 loss to the sixth-seeded Georgia Southern Eagles at the Southern Conference Championships. Thursday afternoon's match was held at the Farmfield Courts in Charleston.

The loss continued the trend for the day as the other two first round matches ended with 4-0 tallies. Eighth seed Elon defeated #9 Chattanooga and the seventh seeded Wofford Terriers ousted #10 Appalachian State both by the same score.

Western defaulted in two flights, including the number three doubles and number six singles slots, giving Georgia Southern the early 1-0 lead from singles. When the first flight of doubles went final, it handed the Eagles the 2-0 advantage. The team of freshman Trish Hanson and Katherine Ptak fell to Ciara Finucane and Szilvia Zsakay, 8-2, awarding the doubles point to GSU.

The duo of senior Kristin Cotton and freshman Ashley Harris did not finish their doubles match once the number one flight was concluded.

In singles action, Harris and her classmate Susanna Sjokvist each fell in straight sets, 6-0, 6-0, while Ptak won one game in the first set at number two before bowing out 6-1, 6-0 to Finucane. Both Hanson at number one and Cotton at number three did not finish their respective matches.

The first-round exit by the Catamounts also signaled the end of the four-year career of Kristin Cotton. The Clemson, S.C., native, who was honored back on senior day on April 10, finishes with an overall singles record of 32-38 and 28-39 in doubles competition.

Final Results

#6 Georgia Southern 4, #11 Western Carolina 0
Charleston, SC - Thursday, April 21, 2005

Doubles
1. Finucane/Zsakay (GSU) def. Hanson/Ptak (WCU), 8-2
2. Tyrell/Wollett (GSU) - Harris/Cotton (WCU), DNF
3. Georgia Southern wins by default

Singles
1. Stephanie Tyrell (GSU) - Trish Hanson (WCU), DNF
2. Ciara Finucane (GSU) def. Katherine Ptak (WCU), 6-1, 6-0
3. Charlotte Bruneteaux - Kristin Cotton (WCU), DNF
4. Szilvia Zsakay (GSU) def. Ashley Harris (WCU), 6-0, 6-0
5. Heather Reynolds (GSU) def. Susanna Sjokvist (WCU) 6-0, 6-0
6. Kimberly Wollett (GSU) wins by default