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By:
Josh Fuller
COLUMBUS – The seventh-ranked Columbus State University women's tennis team snapped the best milestone in Peach Belt Conference history as the Lady Cougars defeated fourth-ranked Armstrong State 6-3 to snap the Pirates' PBC winning streak dating back to 2003.
Heading into Saturday's match, the Pirates had won 154 consecutive regular season conference matches with the streak starting 17 years ago from Sunday (March 26).
"The ladies played a tremendous match today," said head coach
Evan Isaacs. "Anytime Armstrong loses is huge news in the tennis nation because of how great that program is. They are well coached and have great talent. It took everything we had to win today, but we can't get too excited because we still have a lot of work to do."
The Lady Cougars (12-1, 8-0 PBC) got off to the good start thanks to taking two of the three doubles matches. CSU's first win came at second doubles where 19
th-ranked
Camila Tobar and
Giorgia Vitale posted an 8-3 victory. In a top-five showdown at first doubles, fifth-ranked
Beatriz Leon and
Beatriz Lopez fell 8-3 to the third-ranked duo in the nation. In the swing match,
Kirsa Utech and
Rachael Williams won an emotional 9-7 match at third doubles to give CSU the momentum.
Singles play was very competitive as three of the six matches went into a decisive third set. The first three-set match was at second singles as the Pirates recorded an upset win over 29
th-ranked Utech 3-6, 6-3, 6-3. The Lady Cougars took the other two three-set matches. At fourth singles, Tobar won over the 22
nd-ranked player in the nation 3-6, 6-2, 6-1 while
Olivera Tadijin bested her opponent 6-2, 3-6, 6-1 at sixth singles.
There were two matches that featured ranked payers on each side. In the marquee match, 21
st-ranked Vitale fell 6-2, 6-1 to the fifth-ranked player in the nation. CSU took the other ranked showdown at third singles as 43
rd-ranked Lopez won 6-1, 6-4 over the 17
th-ranked player in the country. Leon picked up the other Lady Cougar singles win taking fifth singles with ease 6-4, 6-2.
Columbus State will now turn its attention to top-ranked BYU Hawaii on Monday. The match will begin at 2 p.m.
Singles
1. #5 Lena Lutzeier (ARM) def. #21
Giorgia Vitale (CSU) 6-2, 6-1
2. Paula Boixader Roca (ARM) def. #29
Kirsa Utech (CSU) 3-6, 6-3, 6-3
3. #43
Beatriz Lopez (CSU) def. #17 Tatjana Stoll (ARM) 6-1, 6-4
4.
Camila Tobar (CSU) def. #22 Diana Stomlega (ARM) 3-6, 6-2, 6-1
5.
Beatriz Leon (CSU) def. Tamri Chalaganidze (ARM) 6-4, 6-2
6.
Olivera Tadijin (CSU) def. Alice Patch (ARM) 6-2, 3-6, 6-1
Doubles
1. #3 Lena Lutzeier/Diana Stomlega (ARM) def. #5
Beatriz Leon/
Beatriz Lopez (CSU) 8-3
2. #19
Camila Tobar/
Giorgia Vitale (CSU) def. Alice Patch/Tamri Chalaganidze (ARM) 8-3
3.
Kirsa Utech/
Rachael Williams (CSU) def. Paula Boixader Roca/Tatjana Stoll (ARM) 9-7
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