Sunday, 02/28/2010

Wingate, N.C.----The Wingate University women’s tennis team battled the cold and the wind to collect an 8-1 victory over UNC Pembroke Thursday afternoon at the WU Tennis Complex. The Bulldogs (5-3 overall) have won two matches in a row. UNC Pembroke falls to 1-4 overall with the loss.

 

Four Bulldogs won twice Thursday. Wingate junior Kara Stasikelis (Greer, S.C.) set the tone in singles, as she earned a hard-fought 7-6, 6-3 victory over UNCP freshman Mia Winterbottom (Sydney, Australia) at the number one flight. Earlier in the day, Stasikelis teamed with freshman Kelli Ferguson (Charlotte, N.C.) to defeat UNCP juniors Meredith Pierson (Chinquapin, N.C.) and Jannaka Oxendine (Rocky Mount, N.C.) 8-5 in the number one doubles match.

 

Ferguson stopped Pierson 6-2, 6-0 in the number two singles match. Wingate sophomore Samantha Alschlager (Indian Trail, N.C.) defeated UNCP junior Maricel Quintero Prieto (Bogota, Colombia) 6-2, 6-2 at the number three singles flight. Alschlager and senior Hollyn Alberghini (Stanfield, N.C.) defeated Quintero Prieto and junior Christian Minnick (Laurinburg, N.C.) 8-5 in the number two doubles match.

 

Oxendine earned UNC Pembroke’s only point, edging Alberghini 6-4, 6-3 at the number four singles position. Wingate freshman Helen Goreshi (Oakville, Ontario) and sophomore Ewa Opala (Redziny, Poland) finished the match with straight-set victories at the number five and number six flights, respectively.

 

Opala lost only two games Thursday, as she teamed with senior Pierce Dillard (Simpsonville, S.C.) to earn an 8-0 victory at the number three doubles position over Winterbottom and freshman Beverly Vause (Fairmont, N.C.).

 

The Bulldogs return to the courts Friday, hosting South Atlantic Conference rival Lincoln Memorial University. The first serve for the twin bill with the Wingate men’s team will start at 1 p.m. (please note new time). UNC Pembroke returns home to entertain NCAA Division I North Carolina Central University Sunday at 12 noon.

 

NCAA DIVISION II WOMEN’S MATCH RESULTS
WINGATE 7, LIMESTONE 2 (at Wingate, N.C.)

 

Singles
#1 Kara Stasikelis (WIN) def. Mia Winterbottom (UNCP) 7-6, 6-3

#2 Kelli Ferguson (WIN) def. Meredith Pierson (UNCP) 6-2, 6-0

#3 Samantha Alschlager (WIN) def. Maricel Quintero Prieto (UNCP) 6-2, 6-2

#4 Jannaka Oxendine (UNCP) Hollyn Alberghini (WIN) 6-4, 6-3

#5 Helen Goreshi (WIN) def. Christian Minnick (UNCP) 6-4, 6-2

#6 Ewa Opala (WIN) def. Beverly Vause (UNCP) 6-0, 6-2


Doubles
#1 Stasikelis/Ferguson (WIN) def. Pierson/Oxendine (UNCP) 8-5

#2 Alschlager/Alberghini (WIN) def. Quintero Prieto/Minnick (UNCP) 8-5

#3 Opala/Pierce Dillard (WIN) def. Winterbottom/Vause (UNCP) 8-0
RECORDS: Wingate 5-3 overall, UNC Pembroke 1-4 overall