March 13, 2011

Box Score

CULLOWHEE, N.C. - Western Carolina tennis defeated Davidson Sunday 4-3, picking up its first Southern Conference win of the season. The match marked the first victory this season in Cullowhee, and its first over Davidson in over 10 years.

The match was even from the beginning as both teams split No. 1 and No. 2 doubles. In the No. 1 slot, Ainhoa Iglesias-Díaz and Carolina Lainez came back from being down 0-2 early in the set to take a 4-2 lead over Davidson's Galainena and Crouser. From there, the Catamount duo went on to pick up the victory by a score of 8-5.

The No. 2 doubles match was just as evenly matched. After trading points, the Wildcats No. 2 pair of Alison Rauh and Brites Moniz-Soares finally broke serve to pull away in the match to pick up the 8-6 win. With Western not fielding a No. 3 doubles pair, the doubles point went to the Wildcats of Davidson, giving Davidson the early 1-0 lead.

Having to give up the defaulted No. 6 singles match, the Catamounts looked up at a 2-0 disadvantage. Davidson's Elise Held picked up the No. 5 match over WCU's Katie Barry 6-0, 6-1. Being down 3-0, Western had to pick up a win at all four remaining matches to pick up the victory.

Karen Jiménez began the comeback for the Catamounts defeating Davidson's Moniz-Soares 6-1, 6-1 in the No. 4 slot to give the sophomore her second singles win of the week and her fourth of the season.

At No. 1 singles, Izabella Glinska made quick work of Alison Rauh, winning the match by a score of 6-2, 6-0. Her doubles teammate, Carolina Lainez, fought through a match that was tough throughout to pick up the victory in the No. 2 spot 6-3, 7-5.

With the match tied at 3-3, the match was ultimately decided in the No. 3 match featuring junior Ainhoa Iglesias-Díaz and senior Samantha Galainena of Davidson.

After dropping the first set 1-6, Iglesias-Díaz fought back to overpower the senior from Davidson 6-2, 6-0.

The match was the first SoCon win for the Catamounts since defeating Wofford last season 4-3. Western Carolina will be back in action against the Terriers in Spartanburg on Wednesday.