College Tennis Teams - North Carolina State - Team News - Women's Tennis Defeats College of Charleston, 6-1

CHARLESTON, S.C. – The NC State women’s tennis team improved its record to 4-0 and completed a successful first road trip of the 2013 season by defeating College of Charleston, 6-1, at the College of Charleston Tennis Center at Patriot Point Sunday afternoon.

The duo of sophomore Sophie Nelson and senior Chloe Smith grabbed a quick victory, by way of injury, over Grace Baker and Christin Newman at No. 3 doubles. The two sides played just a few points in the first game of the match before Baker could not resume play due to a leg injury.

Junior Joelle Kissell and senior Tatiana Illova clinched the doubles point at the No. 1 spot in the lineup with an 8-4 victory over Irene Viana and Samantha Maddox.

Nelson and Smith improved their record to 4-0 as a doubles team in dual matches this season, while Kissell and Illova moved to 3-1 overall.

College of Charleston (3-2) responded at the beginning of singles play, as Brooke McAmis defeated sophomore Nicole Martinez, 6-0, 6-0, in the No. 2 spot to tie the overall match, 1-1.

The tie would be short-lived however, as Smith put the Wolfpack back on top in her No. 6 singles bout, cruising past Olivia McMillan, 6-0, 6-1. Illova, playing in the No. 3 spot, pushed NC State’s lead to 3-1 after defeating Maddox, 6-4, 6-1.

Freshman Rachael James-Baker went on to clinch the overall match for the second time this season with a 6-4, 6-3 triumph over Jenny Falcone in the No. 4 spot. The Plantation, Fla., native also clinched the match in her collegiate debut in singles play against UNC Greensboro on Feb. 7.

Although the team victory was already in hand, Kissell, ranked 40th in the latest ITA singles poll, continued the Wolfpack rally with a 6-1, 6-3 win over Newman in the No. 1 spot, before sophomore Elisha Hande outlasted Katherine Schofield, 6-4, 7-5, in the No. 5 spot. Kissell and Hande both improved to 4-0 in dual singles play on the year.

The Pack’s five singles victories against College of Charleston improved the team’s overall singles record to 22-2 in dual matches this spring.