ANDERSON, S.C. -The Anderson University women's tennis team
returns to action Saturday when it hosts Pennsylvania State
Athletic Conference member California (Pa) Saturday and Conference
Carolina member Converse on Monday at the AU Tennis Complex. First
serve on Saturday is set for 11 a.m. while first serve on Monday is
set for 3:30 p.m.
The Trojans
After dropping a hard fought 5-4 decision over South Atlantic
Conference opponent Lincoln Memorial on Friday, Anderson is 6-3
overall and 3-1 in conference play.
In the Black and Gold's last match against the Railsplitters,
Anderson won two out of three in the doubles round and lost four of
five singles matches for the setback. Junior Rebecca Bruning and
freshman Jennifer Holcombe are each 6-2 in singles play.
In doubles this season, Anderson's No. 1 team and No. 22 duo of
Ivey Welborn and Bruning are 8-1 overall while posting a 4-1
conference record.
The Vulcans
The California University of Pennsylvania tennis program recently
debuted as the No. 14 team in the country and No. 1 team in the
Atlantic Region in the latest Intercollegiate Tennis Association
(ITA) rankings. The Vulcans come into Saturday's contest with a 2-2
overall mark.
The Vulcans feature a pair of players in the singles and doubles
national rankings that include the results from the 2015 fall
season.
In the singles rankings, sophomore Lena Dimmer was slotted No. 2 in
the region and No. 24 in the country after making it to the
semifinals of the ITA Atlantic Regional Championships. Junior
Kiefer Shaw was ranked No. 4 in the region and No. 43 in the nation
after nearly repeating as the regional champion in singles
play.
Junior transfer Jasi Witherspoon was slotted No. 5 in the region
and classmate Veronika Mikulis was ranked No. 12 in the initial
rankings.
The duo of Dimmer and Shaw, who are the top-ranked doubles team in
the region, were slotted No. 12 in the country after finishing in
seventh place at the ITA National Championships. The tandem
captured the doubles title at both the regional and Pennsylvania
State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Championships in September.
The Valkyries
Converse enters Mondays match with a 3-4 overall record losing its
last two matches. Prior to their last two contests, the Valkyries
had won three straight matches.
During their three game match win streak, The Valkyries had won
with a combined point total of 24-1, by blanking both Columbia and
Johnson C Smith while giving up one point to Winston-Salem
State.
The Series
The 2013 match between Anderson and Converse marked the first
meeting since the Trojans joined the SAC prior to the 2011 season.
The Black and Gold have not given up a point to Converse, blanking
the Valkyries 9-0 each of the last three meetings.
This will be the first meeting between California University of
Pennsylvania and the Trojans.
