MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The Presbyterian College women's tennis team improved to 5-0 on the season with a 6-1 win at Alabama State on Sunday afternoon. The Blue Hose continue the best start in the program's Division I history.
It is the first five-match winning streak for the program since 2012 when the Blue Hose also won five straight matches, including four on the road. It is the first five-match road winning streak since the program transitioned to Division I starting in 2008.
The Blue Hose claimed the doubles points with wins at No. 1 and 3. Caroline Ferrari and Demi Henschel teamed up to win for a 6-2 win at No. 1, while Brittany Nuttall and Nicole Croxton earned a win at No. 3 by a score of 6-3 to give PC a 1-0 lead. Claire-Mitchell Andrews and Tracy Johnson led 5-4 at No. 2 doubles but the match went unfinished after PC clinched.
In singles, Alabama State started off with win at No. 2 singles to even match at 1-1. The Blue Hose took the next five matches en route to the victory. Andrews earned a 6-3, 6-2 victory at No. 5, followed by Croxton at No. 6 with a 6-3, 6-4 win. Henschel won her straight match to clinched the win for PC, topping Gabriela Lackova by sets of 6-4, 7-5.
PC closed out the match with three-set victories in the final two matches of the day. Nuttall claimed a 6-2, 1-6, 7-6 win at No. 4 and Johnson pulled out a victory No. 1 by score of 6-2, 2-6, 7-6, as both players remained perfect in singles on the season.
Johnson, the reigning Big South Player of the Week, has compiled a team-best 5-0 record in singles this year with an unblemished 9-0 mark overall. Nuttall improved to 4-0 singles, while as a team PC has now won 23 of its 28 singles matches played this season.
PC returns to action on Thursday, February 4, in its home opener against Charlotte at 2:30 p.m.
Presbyterian 6, Alabama State 1
Singles
1. Tracy Johnson (PC) def. Arantxia Wijingaarde (ASU) 6-2, 2-6, 7-6
2. Marine Cartier (ASU) def. Caroline Ferrari (PC) 6-4, withdrew (inj.)
3. Demi Henschel (PC) def. Gabriela Lackova (ASU) 6-4, 7-5
4. Brittany Nuttall (PC) def. Irina Cvijovic (ASU) 6-2, 1-6, 7-6
5. Claire M Andrews (PC) def. Brankica Orlovic (ASU) 6-3, 6-2
6. Nicole Croxton (PC) def. Patricia Regel (ASU) 6-3, 6-4
Doubles
1. Demi Henschel/Caroline Ferrari (PC) def. Gabriela Lackova/Patricia Regel (ASU) 6-2
2. Claire M Andrews/Tracy Johnson (PC) def. Marine Cartier/Arantxia Wijingaarde (ASU) 5-4, unf
3. Brittany Nuttall/Nicole Croxton (PC) def. Irina Cvijovic/Brankica Orlovic (ASU) 6-3
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3); Singles (2,5,6,3,4,1)
