Sumter, S.C.- History was made on Friday afternoon as the #15 ranked Lenoir-Rhyne women's tennis team defeated #3 seeded and #13 ranked Wingate 4-2 to secure its spot in the South Atlantic Conference Championship for the first time in program history.
The Bears set the tone early by claiming the doubles point with wins from
Mehetia Boosie /
Runa Muderrisoglu and
Alexa Allison /
Nellie Wahlberg at the #2 and #3 spots.
Nellie Wahlberg made quick work at #3 singles, winning 6-0, 6-2 to put the Bears up 2-0. Leading 2-1,
Mehetia Boosie picked up a big 6-4, 6-4 victory at #5 singles. With the Bears up 3-2,
Sandra Mahbouli and
Runa Muderrisoglu each had match points at the exact same time, and Mahbouli brought the Bears home by winning a 7-5, 6-4 battle at #4 singles.
Doubles Results
1.
Sandra Mahbouli /
Claudia Orsini (LR) vs. Daniela Kotara / Anastasiia Oktiabreva (WU) 4-5, UNFINISHED
2.
Mehetia Boosie /
Runa Muderrisoglu (LR) def. Fernanda Castillo / Honomi Watanabe (WU) 6-2
3.
Alexa Allison /
Nellie Wahlberg (LR) def. Mariia Bobrovska / Claudia Vallejos (WU) 6-4
Singles Results
1.
Runa Muderrisoglu (LR) vs.Claudia Vallejos (WU) 6-3, 1-6, 5-4, UNFINISHED
2. Anastasiia Oktiabreva (WU) def.
Claudia Orsini (LR) 6-3, 6-4
3.
Nellie Wahlberg (LR) def. Fernanda Castillo (WU) 6-0, 6-2
4.
Sandra Mahbouli (LR) def. Honomi Watanabe (WU) 7-5, 6-4
5.
Mehetia Boosie (LR) def. Mariia Bobrovska (WU) 6-4, 6-4
6. Benedetta Palazzo (WU) def.
Disha Khandoji (LR) 7-6, 6-3
The Bears will face the #1 seed and #7 ranked Catawba Indians in the South Atlantic Conference Championship match tomorrow. Catawba advanced with a 4-0 victory over Anderson earlier today. First serve is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.