Wingate, N.C.----The number 49 Wingate University women’s tennis team concluded the regular season on a high note, defeating USC Aiken 6-3 in NCAA Division II Southeast Region action Wednesday at the WU Tennis Complex. Sophomore
Becca Thomas (Alpharetta, Ga.) was one of three players to win twice each for Wingate (16-5 overall). USC Aiken junior
Margot Simon (Nantes, France) won twice for the visiting Pacers (10-10 overall).
Thomas paired with junior
Ali Evers (Roswell, Ga.) to defeat USCA freshman
Giovanna Ramos (Sao Paulo, Brazil) and junior
Shauna Williams (Columbia, S.C.) 8-1 in the number one doubles match. The 2012 South Atlantic Conference Freshman of the Year, Thomas earned a 6-3, 6-2 decision over Ramos at the number two singles flight.
The Bulldogs led 2-1 after doubles. In addition to the Evers/Thomas victory, sophomore
Tiffany Williams (Cary, N.C.) and senior
Helen Goreski (Oakville, Ontario) claimed a doubles point with a 9-7 triumph over USCA freshman
Julie Arruda (Valinhos, Brazil) and junior
Caitlyn Lawrence (Barrie, Ontario) at the number three position.
Thomas gave Wingate a 3-1 lead with her triumph over Ramos. The next three matches each went the distance (three sets) with the Bulldogs taking the victory in two of the marathons. Williams outlasted Pacer junior
Franziska Regel (Hamburg, Germany) 4-6, 7-6, 6-2 at the number four singles flight to give the Bulldogs a 4-1 advantage.
Simon rallied for a 2-6, 6-4, 6-0 win over Evers at the number one spot to cut the USC Aiken deficit to 4-2. Bulldog junior
Morgan Winston (Lawrenceville, Ga.) clinched the victory for the hosts with her 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 conquest over Williams at the number three singles position. Goreski earned Wingate’s final point with a 6-1, 6-1 number six singles triumph over Lawrence.
Wingate has won three consecutive SAC regular season championships. Next on the horizon for the Bulldogs is the 2013 Food Lion SAC women’s tennis tournament next Thursday through Saturday (April 18-20) at the Rock Hill Tennis Center. Wingate is the number one seed, so they will receive a first-round bye and begin play on Friday, April 19. The Bulldogs have won the last two Food Lion SAC tournaments.
