ELON, N.C. – After dropping the doubles point, the Elon women’s tennis team nearly upset 61st-ranked Southern Conference unbeaten College of Charleston, but Cougar freshman Samantha Maddox managed to pull out a 2-6, 7-6 (6), 6-3 victory over Phoenix rookie Barbora Lazarova at number three singles to clinch the 4-3 victory for the visitors at The Jimmy Powell Tennis Center on Friday afternoon.
“I am really proud of the way we regrouped and battled back in singles play,” said Elon head coach Elizabeth Anderson. “Frida (Jansaker), Viviana (Stavreva) and Maria (Camara Ruiz) really stepped up today and we had a chance to beat a very good team. We are on the right path and peaking as we head into the Southern Conference Tournament.”
The nationally-ranked Cougars moved to 18-4 overall and 7-0 in the conference. The Phoenix dropped to 14-7 on the year and ended the SoCon regular season with a 5-4 mark.
After Jansaker tied the match at three-all with her 1-6, 6-1, 6-2 defeat of Caroline Newman, all eyes turned to court four. After Lazarova won the first set, Maddox battled out a 7-6 (6) second set to send the match into a third set. Maddox finally got the break to take a 5-3 advantage and served out the match-clinching 6-3 set.
The Phoenix fell behind, 1-0, after the Cougars captured the doubles point with wins at number two and three. But Elon’s number one doubles team of Jordan Johnston and Jansaker improved to an impressive 18-2 on the year after claiming an 8-2 decision over College of Charleston’s Irene Viana and Jamie Harrell.
After Bryn Khoury dropped a hard-fought match at number two singles, rookie Maria Camara Ruiz gave the Phoenix its first point of the day to limit the Cougars to a 2-1 edge. Camara Ruiz defeated CofC’s Katie Lee in straight sets, 6-1, 6-4 at number six.
Viviana Stavreva knotted the match at two-all at number five after claiming a three-set win over Jenny Falcone. Stavreva dropped a heart breaking 7-6 (5) decision in the first set, but stormed back for dominant 6-0, 6-1 wins in the second and third to win her match.
The Cougars were quick to reclaim the lead with a win at number one, as Christin Newman handed Johnston a 6-4, 6-3 setback. The loss marks only the second for Johnston in her last 10 matches.
Jansaker helped the Phoenix tie the match at three-all with her come-from-behind win at number three singles over Caroline Newman to give the Phoenix a chance at the win.
Elon closes out its home slate tomorrow at 11 a.m. versus North Carolina Central. The team will celebrate Senior Day and the final home match for Kaylyn Smialek.