Mars Hill, N.C.----Wingate University sophomore Samantha Alschlager (Indian Trail, N.C.) won two matches and earned the decisive singles victory as the Bulldogs defeated Mars Hill College 5-4 in South Atlantic Conference women’s tennis action Saturday at the Hart Tennis Complex.
The Bulldogs are 10-6 overall and 5-2 in the SAC. Wingate hits double-digit regular season team victories for the second year in a row and the 11th time in the school’s NCAA history. The MHC Lions are 2-8 overall and 1-2 in the SAC.
Alschlager started her day with a big doubles win. The Porter Ridge High School product teamed with senior Hollyn Alberghini (Stanfield, N.C.) to earn an 8-6 victory over Mars Hill senior Patricia LaRovere (Caracas, Venezuela) and junior Paola Aybar Jimenez (Santa Domingo, Dominican Republic) at the number two doubles flight.
The Bulldogs entered singles play with a 2-1 lead. Mars Hill won the top three singles matches, including a three-set triumph at the number three flight. Lion freshman Ona Jane (Delray Beach, Fla.) outlasted Alberghini 5-7, 6-2, 6-2 for Mars Hill’s final victory of the day.
Wingate freshman Helen Goreski (Oakville, Ontario) tied the match at 4-4 with a 6-1, 6-0 victory over Aybar Jimenez at the number four singles flight. Goreski’s triumph set the stage for Alschlager to close the books, as she blanked Mars Hill sophomore Jordan Dockery (Gastonia, N.C.) 6-0, 6-0.
Wingate returns home Thursday, hosting Newberry College for a 2:30 p.m. SAC match. Mars Hill visits nearby SAC rival Tusculum College Tuesday for a 2 p.m. contest.
SOUTH ATLANTIC CONFERENCE WOMEN’S TENNIS MATCH RESULTS
WINGATE 5, MARS HILL 4 (at Mars Hill, N.C.)
Singles
#1 Erika Pinate (MHC) def. Kara Stasikelis (WIN) 6-1, 6-1
#2 Patricia LaRovere (MHC) def. Kelli Ferguson (WIN) 7-5, 6-2
#3 Ona Jane (MHC) def. Hollyn Alberghini (WIN) 5-7, 6-2, 6-2
#4 Helen Goreski (WIN) def. Paola Aybar Jimenez (MHC) 6-1, 6-0
#5 Samantha Alschlager (WIN) def. Jordan Dockery (MHC) 6-0, 6-0
#6 Ewa Opala (WIN) won by default (no MHC player)
Doubles
#1 Pinate/Jane (MHC) def. Stasikelis/Ferguson (WIN) 8-3
#2 Alberghini/Alschlager (WIN) def. LaRovere/Aybar Jimenez (MHC) 8-6
#3 Goreski/Opala (WIN) won by default (no MHC team)
RECORDS: Wingate 10-6 overall (5-2 SAC); Mars Hill 2-8 overall (1-2 SAC)