COLUMBUS - The 10th-ranked Columbus State University women's tennis team saw its 54-match winning streak against Peach Belt Conference opponents come to an end on Saturday as 14th-ranked Flagler College topped the Lady Cougars 4-3 in the PBC Tournament championship at the John W. Walden Tennis Center.
It's the first time CSU has lost to a PBC school in either regular or postseason play since April 24, 2016.
"This doesn't end our season," commented head coach Evan Isaacs." "Everyone is disappointed, but we still have so much to play for. We could very easily see Flagler again in the NCAA Tournament and we are for sure going to get after it doing practice this week."
The Saints took two of the three doubles matches from Columbus State, including winning a crucial tiebreaker at third doubles to secure the first point of the afternoon. CSU's lone win came at second doubles where the duo of Valentina Abrile and Sara Ramirez Goncalves took a 6-0 victory over Alessandra Traub and Flo. Massardo Brain. Playing at the top spot, eight-ranked Beatriz Lopez and Candice Paya battled Luisa Hrda and Amelie Vossgaetter all afternoon before falling 7-5.
At third doubles, neither tandem could find separation as the swing match headed into a key tiebreaker. Eventually, Paloma Martinez and Eden Schlagenhauf pulled away for a 7-2 tiebreak win to post a 7-6 victory over the CSU pair of Amanda Citre and Luise Sachs.
Four of the six singles matches went the distance, with Columbus State (14-4) picking up wins in the two that were decided in straight sets. Abrile was the first to finish up as she breezed by Anika Nissen 6-3, 6-1 at fourth singles. Agostina Bigotti needed a few more minutes to finish off Vossgaetter at fifth singles. The second-year freshman took the first set 6-3 before winning the second 7-6 after a 7-3 tiebreak.
Things were looking bright for Columbus State as 38th-ranked Paya gave the Lady Cougars a 3-1 lead following her win at second singles. After losing the first set 6-3, Paya stormed back, taking the final two by the score of 6-3 to defeat 24th-ranked Schlagenhauf.
However, from there, Flagler (15-4) tallied the wins it needed to win the program's first PBC women's tennis championship. FC's Traub won the first set at third singles 6-3 over Sachs before getting blanked 6-0 in the second. Still, Traub bounced back to take the third 6-3 for the victory. Massardo Brain rallied from a first set loss against Yelena Labat to tie the overall match score at three. Labat was battling through an ailment in the 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 loss.
The championship came down to first singles where ninth-ranked Lopez and 31st-ranked Hrda were going back-and-forth. The two players split each won a set 6-2 before Hrda outlasted Lopez 6-3 to give her team the title.
Columbus State will now await the announcement of the NCAA Southeast Regional field. The selection show will be held on Tuesday, May 4 with the tournament beginning on Monday, May 10 in Dahlonega, Ga.
