ABILENE – Abilene Christian women's tennis lost a one-point decision for the third time this Southland Conference season Saturday at the Eager Tennis Center, falling 4-3 to the McNeese Cowgirls.
The loss dropped ACU's overall and conference records to 8-7 and 3-2, while the Cowgirls improved to 8-2 and 4-1.
The Wildcats today lost the doubles point followed by straight-set singles decisions at the No. 6 and 2 positions, which put them in a 3-0 hole. But senior
Lucile Pothier held off Giovanna Fioretti, 6-4, 1-6, 6-0, in three sets for her ninth win of the spring, and then junior
Autumn Crossnoe rallied from a set down to beat Charoline Erlandsson, 2-6, 6-3, 6-3.
Freshman
Nini Memishishi also posted a three-set triumph – her team-leading 11th of the year – toppling Hannah Brett, 6-3, 4-6, 6-3, to tie the team score at 3-3. Unfortunately, sophomore Sara Eleanor Adams could not hold onto her first-set lead as Marjia Mastilovic rallied to win, 6-4, 6-7 (6-8), 6-1.
Whitney Williams and
Ileana Mocciola won ACU's lone doubles match, defeating Phonexay Chitdara and Charoline Erlandsson, 6-3, but Crossnoe and Adams couldn't maintain their early lead at No. 2 over Fioretti and Marjia Mastilovic, losing, 6-4, while the No. 1 duo of Pothier and Memishishi were unable to catch Jurakova and Brett, 6-4.
The Wildcats return to action a week from today with a 2 p.m. match at New Orleans.
McNeese 4, Abilene Christian 3
Singles
1.
Lucile Pothier (ACU) def. Giovanna Fioretti (MCN) 6-4, 1-6, 6-0
2. Sarah Jurakova (MCN) def.
Whitney Williams (ACU) 6-3, 6-2
3.
Nini Memishishi (ACU) def. Hannah Brett (MCN) 6-3, 4-6, 6-3
4. Marjia Mastilovic (MCN) def. Sarah Adams (ACU) 6-4, 6-7 (6-8), 6-1
5.
Autumn Crossnoe (ACU) def. Charoline Erlandsson (MCN) 2-6, 6-3, 6-3
6. Phonexay Chitdara (MCN) def.
Ileana Mocciola (ACU) 6-3, 6-2
Doubles
1. Sarah Jurakova/Hannah Brett (MCN) def.
Lucile Pothier/
Nini Memishishi (ACU) 6-4
2. Giovanna Fioretti/Marjia Mastilovic (MCN) def.
Autumn Crossnoe/Sarah Adams (ACU) 6-4
3.
Whitney Williams/
Ileana Mocciola (ACU) def. Phonexay Chitdara/Charoline Erlandsson (MCN) 6-3
Match Notes:
McNeese 8-2
Abilene Christian 8-7
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2,1); Singles (6,2,1,5,3,4)
