Box Score
ANDERSON, S.C. – Anderson women's tennis (10-1) earned a come-from-behind 4-3 win over Erskine (2-2) on Friday afternoon at the Trojan Tennis Complex. Freshman Ensley Collins fought off a match point en route to a 6-7(5), 7-6(9), 6-1 win at the No. 6 spot, clinching the match.
"The girls played great in the singles and fought hard," AU Head Coach Joey Eskridge said. "We came out flat in the doubles, but thankfully we got through it with a win. Ensley Collins, freshman, winning 6-1 in the third set, saving a match point with a let-cord winner. Gigi [Sompayrac] coming back and winning a third set. Val [Borda] winning in a third set. It was just a great team effort, I'm proud of the girls."
Erskine took the first point of the dual match, sweeping all three doubles matches. AU made things close on courts one and three, but the Flying Fleet were victorious on both courts to secure the point.
In singles, the Trojans got on the board first with a dominant win from junior Alexandria Braithwaite at No. 4. Erskine answered with straight-set victories at No. 1 and No. 5, and held a 3-1 lead.
Needing to win all three remaining matches, AU responded. Sophomore Gigi Sompayrac battled back after dropping the opening set for a 1-6, 6-3, 7-5 win at No. 3. Shortly afterward, senior Valentina Borda notched another three-set win for the Black and Gold, emerging victorious 6-7(5), 6-1, 6-2 at the top singles spot.
With the match coming down to court six, freshman Collins fought off a match point at 5-6 in the second set, forcing a decisive third. In the final set, the Cleveland, Tenn., native dominated with a 6-1 win to seal the team victory.
With the win, the Trojans hold a three-match winning streak heading into conference play, which begins next week. AU also secured their first 4-3 victory since last season, snapping a two-match skid in matches decided by that score.
UP NEXT
AU begins SAC play with a trip to Hickory, North Carolina to take on the Lenoir-Rhyne Bears on Saturday, February 22nd at 11:00 a.m.
Anderson 4, Erskine 3
Singles results:
1. Hanna Vasconez (EC) def. Elena Ronconi (AU) 6-2, 6-1
2. Valentina Borda (AU) def. Ariana Jativa (EC) 6-7(5), 6-1, 6-2
3. Gigi Sompayrac (AU) def. Teodora Stefanovic (EC) 1-6, 6-3, 7-5
4. Alexandria Braithwaite (AU) def. Rupal Kharb (EC) 6-0, 6-2
5. Angelina Jacobs (EC) def. Mara Opre (AU) 6-4, 6-0
6. Ensley Collins (AU) def. Czarina Aguirre (EC) 6-7(5), 7-6(9), 6-1
Order of Finish: 4, 1, 5, 3, 2, 6
Doubles results:
1. Ariana Jativa/Teodora Stefanovic (EC) def. Elena Ronconi/Gigi Sompayrac (AU) 6-4
2. Rupal Kharb/Angelina Jacobs (EC) def. Valentina Borda/Mara Opre (AU) 6-3
3. Hanna Vasconez/Czarina Aguirre (EC) def. Alexandria Braithwaite/Ensley Collins (AU) 6-4
Order of Finish: 2, 3, 1
Match Notes:
Anderson 10-1
Erskine 2-2
T - 4:15
Att: 80
Written by AU student-athlete Drew Cagle
