BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (CentreColonels.com) – Trailing 2-1 after doubles play, the Centre women's tennis team earned five singles triumphs en route to its seventh straight match with a 6-3 victory on the road at Birmingham Southern on Sunday at the Dielen Tennis Complex.
The Colonels improve to 10-6 overall and 4-1 in Southern Athletic Association (SAA) action, while the Panthers move to 5-8 on the season and 2-3 in the conference.
Centre fell behind in doubles competition 2-1, but the duo of sophomore Neha Rao (London, Ky.) and junior Aliza Williams (Cincinnati, Ohio) continued its winning ways, earning an 8-2 victory at top doubles.
Williams was 2-0 on the day, topping Isabella Wisener 6-1, 6-2 at the No. 2 singles position.
The Colonels picked up comeback wins by sophomore Abigail Kent (College Station, Texas) at No. 3 singles and freshman Zena Maddux (Hopkinsville, Ky.) at the No. 6 slot. Kent dropped the first set 6-4 to McKenzie Courtney, before battling back with 6-4, 6-3 wins in the final two sets. Maddux won the first set 6-3 before Mary Evelyn Carroll evened the matchup with a 6-1 triumph in set two. Maddux responded with a 6-3 victory in the third set for Centre.
Sophomore Emily Zelichenok (Louisville, Ky.) and senior Courtney DeLong (Louisville, Ky.) each collected singles wins at the No. 3 and No. 4 slots, as well.
The Colonels close out the regular season with a pair of SAA matchups in Danville, hosting Rhodes on Friday, April 14 at 4pm ET and Oglethorpe on Saturday, April 15 at 10am ET.
Singles Competition
1. No. 42 Carlee Petro (16BSC-W) def. Neha Rao (CENTRE-W) 7-6(5), 6-4
2. Aliza Williams (CENTRE-W) def. Isabella Wisener (16BSC-W) 6-1, 6-2
3. Abigail Kent (CENTRE-W) def. McKenzie Courtney (16BSC-W) 4-6, 6-4, 6-3
4. Emily Zelichenok (CENTRE-W) def. Emily Whitlock (16BSC-W) 7-5, 7-6(2)
5. Courtney DeLong (CENTRE-W) def. Bonnie Lioce (16BSC-W) 6-2, 6-0
6. Zena Maddux (CENTRE-W) def. Mary Evelyn Carroll (16BSC-W) 6-3, 1-6, 6-3
Doubles Competition
1. Neha Rao / Aliza Williams (CENTRE-W) def. Carlee Petro / Emily Whitlock (16BSC-W) 8-2
2. McKenzie Courtney / Isabella Wisener (16BSC-W) def. Abigail Kent / Emily Zelichenok (CENTRE-W) 8-5
3. Bonnie Lioce / Lexie Dillard (16BSC-W) def. Courtney DeLong / Kenny Snow (CENTRE-W) 8-3
