Box Score April 20, 2006
Cullowhee, N.C. - Western Carolina sophomore Trish Hanson was honored by the Southern Conference on Thursday as she was listed among the post-season award winners at the annual championship tournament in Charleston, S.C. Hanson was named the recipient of conference's Sportsmanship Award as voted by the league's head coaches, sharing the honor with Elon's Elizabeth Kernolde. Also on Thursday afternoon, the 10th-seeded Catamounts were eliminated from the 2006 SoCon Championships, faltering 4-0 to the seventh-seeded Georgia Southern Eagles at the Earle Tennis Center for the second-straight season.
Hanson becomes the second WCU women's tennis player on record to garner post-season accolades from the Southern Conference, joining Tara Livengood who also earned the Sportsmanship Award back in 1999. Hanson, who since stepping on campus last fall has served as the number one in both singles and in doubles competition, led the Catamounts this season by winning six singles matches as the top seed and scored WCU's lone win in SoCon action defeating Monica Tomas from Appalachian State, 6-1 and 6-2, back in late March. The Alpharetta, Ga. native also tallied three doubles victories this year, teaming with classmate Mariona Trilla Jane at number one.
"It is quite an honor to be recognized by the Southern Conference, especially in an area such as the Sportsmanship Award that is determined by the head coaches. Trish (Hanson) works hard day-in and day-out and her on-court demeanor made an impact with the conference coaches. She is very deserving of the award as she is an invaluable part of our program at Western," said Catamount head coach Jan Stubbs.
On Thursday afternoon, Western fell behind early, 1-0, defaulting at the number three doubles position then surrendering the doubles match point to Georgia Southern when the second-seeded team of sophomore Susanna Sjokvist and freshman Holly Stocks were defeated, 8-3, by the Eagle tandem of Szilvia Zsakay and Jessica Matlosz. At number one, Hanson/Trilla Jane were trailing 5-3 when the number two seeds finished, therefore awarding the point to GSU.
The Catamounts gave up a second point by default at the number six slot in singles action, officially falling behind, 2-0, at the outset of singles competition. The seventh-seeded Eagles managed to surge ahead and finish the match, 4-0, with a straight-sets win by Heather Reynolds over freshman Carley Abbott at number five and a 6-1, 6-0 defeat of another WCU freshman, Holly Stocks, by GSU's Kimberly Wollett.
Prior to the number fours finishing, Hanson was battling tough at the top spot, only trailing GSU's Zsakay, 5-4, in the first set. At number two, Sjokvist led early versus her opponent, Molly Maddox, and stood tied at five-games apiece when the final point was scored to put Georgia Southern over the top. In the only other contested singles match, Trilla Jane was down one set, falling 6-1, and trailed two-games to none in the second set against Lauren Wolken.
Western concludes the season with a 3-18 overall record with wins over Northern Kentucky (4-3, Mar. 3), Savannah State (5-0, Mar. 8) and mountain-rival UNC Asheville (5-2, Mar. 22). The Catamounts are set to return all five players from the 2005-06 squad next season, led by Hanson and Sjokvist who will be entering their third seasons with the program.
#7 Georgia Southern 4, #10 Western Carolina 0
2006 Southern Conference Women's Tennis Tournament
Charleston, S.C. - Earle Tennis Center - April 20, 2006
Doubles
1. Wollett/Reynolds (GSU) led Hanson/Trilla Jane (WCU) 5-3 - DNF
2. Zsakay/Matlosz (GSU) def. Sjokvist/Stocks (WCU) 8-3
3. Huxtable/Knight (GSU) won by default
Singles
1. Szilvia Zsakay (GSU) led Trish Hanson (WCU) 5-4, 0-0 - DNF
2. Susanna Sjokvist (WCU) tied with Molly Maddox (GSU) 5-5, 0-0 - DNF
3. Lauren Wolken (GSU) led Mariona Trilla Jane (WCU) 6-1, 2-0 - DNF
4. Kimberly Wollett (GSU) def. Holly Stocks (WCU) 6-0, 6-1
5. Heather Reynolds (GSU) def. Carley Abbott (WCU), 6-0, 6-0
6. Shea Huxtable (GSU) won by default
Order of Finish:
Doubles: 3, 2* (did not contest 3)
Singles: 6, 5, 4* (did not contest 6)
* = clinching point
