March 23, 2006

Cullowhee, N.C. - Western Carolina sophomore Trish Hanson scored her first singles victory in Southern Conference play on Thursday afternoon, but it wasn't enough as the Catamounts fell to rival, Appalachian State, 6-1, at the Catamount Athletic Complex. The loss denied Western's bid to win consecutive matches for the first time this season, while the victory was the Mountaineers fifth-in-a-row.

With Western conceding number three doubles, the Mountaineers took the early 1-0 lead in the match when the tandem of senior Lyndsey Free and junior Anja Gugger defeated Western's duo of sophomore Susanna Sjokvist and freshman Holly Stocks in straight sets, 8-0, at number two. At the number one slot, WCU's sophomore team Hanson and Mariona Trilla Jane broke the ASU serve and claimed an early 2-1 lead in their match. However, sophomore Frances Blanton and Monica Tomas won the next two for the Apps to claim their first advantage, 3-2, and would trade points back-and-forth before Appalachian's pair claimed the 8-5 win.

In singles action, with the sixth seed conceded by WCU, the Mountaineers claimed victory in the match with two, straight set victories at number four and five. Finishing first, Western's Abbott fell to Free at five, 6-0, 6-0, with Stocks dropping her match at number four to senior Salem Kirven by the same count.

Western (3-11, 0-4 SoCon) earned its lone victory on the day through the inspired play of Hanson, who defeated the Apps number one player, Tomas, 6-1, 6-2. Holding a 2-1 lead in the opening set, Hanson won four straight games to win, and then built a commanding 5-2 lead en route to the 6-2 finishing score in the second.

Rounding out singles play, third seeded Trilla Jane fell to senior Victoria Moody, 6-2, 6-0, with Sjokvist wrapping up action on the day with a 6-2, 6-1 loss at number two to Gugger.

The Catamounts return to action on Saturday, March 25, visiting UNC Greensboro in Southern Conference action. Western will host East Tennessee State in non-conference action on Sunday, March 26 at 1:30 pm at the Catamount Athletic Complex.

Appalachian State 6, Western Carolina 1
Cullowhee, N.C. - Thursday, March 23, 2006

Doubles
1.	Blanton/Tomas (ASU) def. Hanson/Trilla Jane (WCU) 8-5
2.	Free/Gugger (ASU) def. Sjokvist/Stocks (WCU) 8-0
3.	Kirven/Moody (ASU) wins by default

Singles
1.	Trish Hanson (WCU) def. Monica Tomas (ASU) 6-1, 6-2
2.	Anja Gugger (ASU) def. Susanna Sjokvist (WCU) 6-2, 6-1
3.	Victoria Moody (ASU) def. Mariona Trilla Jane (WCU) 6-2, 6-0
4.	Salem Kirven (ASU) def. Holly Stocks (WCU) 6-0, 6-0
5.	Lyndsey Free (ASU) def. Carley Abbott (WCU) 6-0, 6-0
6.	Frances Blanton (ASU) wins by default

Order of Finish:
Doubles: 2, 1 (Did not contest 3)
Singles: 5, 4, 1, 3, 2 (Did not contest 6)