BOILING SPRINGS – Gardner-Webb battled hard on Monday afternoon, but fell by a 4-3 count to Elon in women's tennis action.
The Runnin' Bulldogs took an early advantage for the doubles point when the No. 3 team of
Adrienne Vesely and
Mayumi Saguchi took a 6-1 win over the Phoenix pair of Olivia Archer and Suzanne Zenoni.
Elon battled back, however, taking a 6-3 win at No. 2 doubles and getting a 7-5 win at No. 1 doubles to pick up the critical point.
Elon's Archer took a 6-1, 6-2 win at No. 5 singles to put the Phoenix up 2-0 on the team scoreboard, before Gardner-Webb battled back with
Miljana Ristic taking a 6-2, 6-0 win at No. 1 singles.
Maria Paraja gave Elon a 3-1 lead with a 6-1, 6-2 win at No. 2 singles, but Gardner-Webb kept fighting and trimmed the lead to 3-2 when
Valentine Limauge defeated Uma Nayar (6-2, 6-3) at No. 3 singles.
The Phoenix secured the match, however, getting a key singles win from Sofia Edo in the No. 6 slot, as she triumphed by scores of 6-2, 6-3.
Gardner-Webb is back in action on Wednesday, opening Big South Conference play at USC Upstate. The start time is set for 2:00 pm in Spartanburg, S.C.
