Gardner-Webb - Quarterfinals
SEMIFINAL BOUND: CSU tops Gardner-Webb, 4-0, to advance in the Big South Tennis Championships
4/16/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
ASHEVILLE, N.C. - Top-seed Charleston Southern advances to the semifinals of the 2015 Big South Conference Women's Tennis Championships following their 4-0 win over Gardner-Webb on Thursday morning at the Asheville Racquet Club.
The Bucs swept doubles play for the seventh straight match and picked up singles wins on court no. 1, 4 and 5, to advance to the semifinal round for the fourth consecutive season.
CSU will take on a familiar foe in No. 4 seed Liberty on Friday morning. The Flames handed the Bucs their lone Big South Conference loss of the season in Lynchburg, Va., on March 21, but the Bucs have bounced back with wins in their last six matches heading into the semifinal match.
First serve in doubles play between the Bucs and the Flames is set for 10 a.m. at the Asheville Racquet Club.
The Bucs jumped ahead of the Runnin' Bulldogs early with All-Conference doubles duo Angelica Sidorenko and Mi'Kola Cooper topping Rokia Sacko and Teodora Stanciu on court no. 1, 8-3. Marketa Placha and Sophie Cloessner, the Big South Flight No. 3 doubles champion, topped Sarah Rieckmann and Catherine White on court no. 3 to clinch the doubles point for the Bucs.
Yvonne Hubler and Nicolin Luecke completed the doubles sweep at nearly the same time as Placha and Cloessner finished, winning 8-2 over Stina Magnusson and Mary Walker Mixon on court no. 2.
Needing only three wins to advance to the semifinals, Placha put the Bucs on the board first in singles play. The 2015 Big South Player of the Year topped Yasmin Doost in straight sets on court no. 1, 6-1, 6-2, to give the Bucs the 2-0 lead.
Cloessner continued her strong freshman season and remained undefeated in dual match play on the year, topping Rieckmann on court no. 4, 6-0, 6-1. It was the 14th consecutive victory for the freshman and just her second playing on the fourth court this year.
Valeria Koussenkova was the Big South Flight No. 6 champion during the regular season, but stepped up to court no. 5 in the quarterfinal round this morning to clinch the CSU victory. The sophomore topped White 6-2, 6-1, to end play on the remaining courts as CSU took the 4-0 win over the Runnin' Bulldogs.
At play's stoppage, Hubler was leading Sacko on court no. 2, 6-2, 4-2, Cooper was leading Magnusson on court no. 3, 6-4, 2-1, and Luecke had a 6-2, 5-0 lead over Mixon on court no. 6.
Charleston Southern 4, Gardner-Webb 0
Apr 16, 2015 at Asheville, N.C. (Asheville Racquet Club)
Singles competition
1. Marketa Placha (CSU) def. Yasmin Doost (GWU) 6-1, 6-2
2. Yvonne Hubler (CSU) vs. Rokia Sacko (GWU) 6-2, 4-2, unfinished
3. Mi'Kola Cooper (CSU) vs. Stina Magnusson (GWU) 6-4, 2-1, unfinished
4. Sophie Cloessner (CSU) def. Sarah Rieckmann (GWU) 6-0, 6-1
5. Valeria Koussenkova (CSU) def. Catherine White (GWU) 6-2, 6-1
6. Nicolin Luecke (CSU) vs. Mary Walker Mixon (GWU) 6-2, 5-0, unfinished
Doubles competition
1. Angelica Sidorenko/Mi'Kola Cooper (CSU) def. Rokia Sacko/Teodora Stanciu (GWU) 8-3
2. Yvonne Hubler/Nicolin Luecke (CSU) def. Stina Magnusson/Mary Walker Mixon (GWU) 8-2
3. Marketa Placha/Sophie Cloessner (CSU) def. Sarah Rieckmann/Catherine White (GWU) 8-2
Match Notes
Gardner-Webb 9-12
Charleston Southern 15-2
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3); Singles (1,4,5)
Official: Wayne Tesh
