Elon Women’s Tennis Phoenix Comes From Behind, Beats Appalachian State

BOONE, N.C. – Battling cramps all afternoon and trailing in a decisive third set on court No. 5 with the Elon University women’s tennis team tied with Appalachian State, Maria Camara Ruiz dug deep and pulled out the match to give the Phoenix a 4-3 victory Tuesday, April 1, at the Appalachian Tennis Courts.

“We learned a lot about our team today,” said Elon head coach Elizabeth Anderson. “It was a great effort to come from behind and get the win, but the most important thing is learning from this and working on improving in practice as we head into this weekend.”

After Camara Ruiz won the first set handedly by a score of 6-1, Appalachian State’s Jessica Thaggard breezed to a 6-2 victory in the second set to force and third and final set. Trailing 3-4 in the set, the junior got a break of Thaggard and held serve to help Elon pick up its fourth SoCon win of the season.

Elon dropped the doubles point earlier in the day with losses from Camara Ruiz and Frida Jansaker on court No. 2 and Bryn Khoury and Taylor Casey on court No. 3, making the Phoenix need four singles wins to clinch the match.

Trailing 3-1, Jansaker started the rally in completing a 6-3, 6-4 win over Mackenzie LaSure on court No. 2. Then, Casey pulled Elon back even with the Mountaineers with a 7-6 (7-2), 6-1 win on court No. 6.

Those two wins came on the heels of losses by Jordan Johnston and Barbora Lazarova on court Nos. 1 and 3, respectively. Johnston fell 6-2, 7-5 to Clare Cox while Lazarova dropped just her third singles match of the season with a 7-5, 6-2 loss to Gabrielle Wreder.

Elon’s other singles win came from Khoury on court No. 4 to help the Phoenix get back even with the Mountaineers at 1. She was the first player off the court in the match with a 6-2, 6-2 win over Brianna Armellino.

The Phoenix continues its final road trip of the season Saturday, April 5, against the Samford Bulldogs. The match is set for 11 a.m. EDT, 10 a.m. CDT.

Tennis Match Results
Elon vs Appalachian State
Apr 01, 2014 at Boone, N.C.
(Appalachian Tennis Courts)
Elon 4, Appalachian State 3

Singles competition
1. Clare Cox (APP) def. Jordan Johnston (ELON) 6-2, 7-5
2. Frida Jansaker (ELON) def. Mackenzie LaSure (APP) 6-3, 6-4
3. Gabrielle Wreder (APP) def. Barbora Lazarova (ELON) 7-5, 6-2
4. Bryn Khoury (ELON) def. Brianna Armellino (APP) 6-2, 6-2
5. Maria Camara Ruiz (ELON) def. Jessica Thaggard (APP) 6-1, 2-6, 6-4
6. Taylor Casey (ELON) def. Megan Mullen (APP) 7-6 (7-2), 6-1

Doubles competition
1. Jordan Johnston/Barbora Lazarova (ELON) def. Gabrielle Wreder/Mackenzie LaSure (APP) 8-7 (7-3)
2. Clare Cox/McKayla Zupan (APP) def. Maria Camara Ruiz/Frida Jansaker (ELON) 8-6
3. Brianna Armellino/Megan Mullen (APP) def. Bryn Khoury/Taylor Casey (ELON) 8-5

Match Notes:
Elon 10-6, 4-1 SoCon
Appalachian State 5-15, 1-6 SoCon
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1,2); Singles (4,3,1,2,6,5)
Official: Mary Stang T-4:38 A-81