The Women’s tennis team finished up the fall season with a few second and third place finishes at the at the Southern Intercollegiate.
Hosted by the University of South Carolina, the Gamecocks took home six championships to lead the field of 16 teams that included many from the SoCon. The Gamecocks won both the A2 and B2 doubles and finished second in the A1 and C2 flights.
In the first two days, the Bucs were led by Mariia Ilina’s performance in the A2 singles. Ilina advanced to the finals after Saturday’s match against Novaes from Winthrop, Ilina defeated Novaes (6-4, 6-4). Ilina earlier defeated Morris of Furman (6-4, 6-3) in the first round followed by defeating Rodezno in the second round (6-4, 6-4).
In day three’s final round Ilina fell to South Carolina’s Ganzer. After two hard fought sets though the score ended 6-2, 6-2, giving Ganzer the A2 flight championship and giving South Carolina one of their six flights.
Elena Volobueva led the Lady Bucs in flight A1 with an eigth place finish after Sunday’s loss to Nortje of Tennessee-Martin 6-2, 6-2. In her first match Saturday, Volobueva was defeated in the semi-finals by Christyn Lucas from South Carolina (6-2, 6-2). Later, A. Lask from Murray State defeated Volobueva in the first consolations match (3-6, 6-2, 6-4). In first round action Friday, Volobueva defeated Wofford’s Shelly (3-6, 6-2, 6-4).
Sandie Knight and Sylwia Ziolkowska played in the B1 and B2 flights. In Saturday’s play, Murray State’s Ward defeated Ziolkowska (6-4, 6-4), but in the consolation bracket Ziolkowska defeated Charleston Southern’s Bair (6-1, 6-2). In her finals match on Sunday, she was able to win due to a defualt.
Knight’s Saturday play led her to the finals of the consolations tournament. In Sunday’s final round, Knight was able to defeat Wofford’s Hare (6-1, 6-2). To finish third in the B2 flight. In first round play on Friday, Knight lost to Armstrong Atlantic State’s Peaty (6-4, 6-2) and played in the first round of consolation bracket defeating Brieholtz (6-4, 6-3) from Georgia Southern. In Saturday’s matches, Knight defeated Murray State’s Lask (6-4 6-3).
Gemma Halim gave representation to ETSU in the C1 singles bracket. Halim fell in a consolation match to Priest of East Carolina University 6-1, 6-0 in Saturday afternoon’s matches. In Sunday’s last match she fell to Presbyterian College’s Netzler in a tough fought match ending 6-4, 6-3. In Friday’s first round, S. Foltyn from Georgia State defeated Halim (7-6,6-4), Halim though went on to defeat Francis Marion’s Corel (6-0,6-1) in her first consolation match.
Muriel Sherwood was defeated in her opening match Saturday against host team South Carolina’s Audrey George (6-1,6-2), but was able to finish fifth in her flight after defeating the Catamount’s Harris 6-2, 6-2 Sunday. In Saturday’s consolidation bracket, Muriel defeated Hancock from College of Charleston (6-1,6-0). Sherwood opened up the tournament Friday with a win defeating Western Carolina’s S. Sjokvist (6-1,3-6,6-1).
Also in the C2 flight Jewel Aldea was defeated in her opening match Friday by Smith from East Carolina State (6-1,6-3). In the consolidation matches Saturday, Aldea was able to defeat College of Charleston’s Wilson (6-1,6-4) before being dropped to Stricklad of Georgia State (6-1, 2-6, 6-3). In her final match Sunday, she dropped a tough match to Robards of Murray State, (2-6, 7-6, 7-5).
Ziolkowska and Ilina began doubles play Saturday being defeated (8-3) by Bently and Eckert from Furman. In consolation matches, Ziolkowska and Ilina defeated Borisev and Brito form South Carolina State (7-6 ret.) in the A1 draw. In Sunday’s match the Lady Bucs fell to the College of Charleston’s Magory and Capewell in a hard fought match in the finals of the consolidation match (9-7). With the defeat the girls finished the flight in fourth place.
Knight and Volobueva played the B1 draw for the Lady Bucs and won their first match 8-6 against College of Charleston’s Albertz and Roberts, but the girls then fell to Hagood and Morris. Cruz and Rodezno of South Carolina State defeated the pair Sunday in the finals of the flight (8-5).
From Halim and Sherwood together the Lady Bucs had representation in the C1 draw. Winning the first round 8-3 over Rowan and Wilson of College of Charleston they advanced to play to Wofford’s Shelly and Hartness. Shelly and Hartness ended up defeating them 8-2 Saturday. In Sunday’s final match, the pair won once again, this time defeating the Catomounts Ikar and Kokast (8-2)
The Lady Bucs will be home for an alumni match before taking the rest of the semester off.

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