The ETSU women’s tennis team defeated UNC Charlotte 4-3 at the D.P. Phillips Tennis Complex. The Lady Bucs improve to 7-8 on the season, while the 49ers fell to 6-3.
In doubles play ETSU was strong in the No. 1 position, Olya Batsula and Masha Ilina defeated Ana Spivakovsky and Ali Piacente 8-4.
The 49ers tied up the doubles at 1-1 with Tara Byrne and Vita Moskaliova falling to Yana Stoeva and Kathy Robey 8-6 in the No. 3 position.
Yevgeniya Stupak and Elena Volobueva clinched the doubles point for ETSU defeating Michelle Alexander and Koren Fleming 8-6 in the No. 2 position.
In singles action Tara Byrne was on and off the court with a convincing 6-0, 6-2 win over Koren Fleming in the No. 4 position putting ETSU in a 2-0 lead.
UNCC continued to fight, coming back with a win at No. 5. Volobueva fell to Stoeva 6-2, 6-0, but the Lady Bucs kept their lead as Ilina defeated Picante in the No. 2 slot 6-2, 7-6 (5).
The match remained tight as Stupak fought in a three-set match, eventually being defeated by Spivakovsky 2-6, 6-2, 6-4 in the No. 1 position. Moskaliova was defeated by Michelle Alexander 7-6 (1), 6-4 in the sixth position, which tied the match at 3-3.
Batsula battled through the deciding match in the No. 3 position. She dropped the opening set before coming back and taking the second. In a tight third set she trailed 3-4 before coming back and taking the third set and the match for ETSU with just one unforced error in the remaining three games.
“We played good in No. 1 doubles and Tara was on and off the court today getting the job done,” said head coach Steve Brooks. “Masha was in control of her match, her opponent fought back but Masha was able to raise her level.
“Olya played tough in a tight match and I am glad that we won today. Now we have conference matches coming up to concentrate on.”
The Lady Bucs will face conference opponent Jacksonville University at ETSU Wednesday, March 21 at 2:30 p.m.

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