BOONE, N.C. — Appalachian State University women's tennis dropped a tough 6-1 match to nationally-ranked Division III opponent, Emory University, on Saturday at Yonahlossee Racquet Club.
“Today was a good test for us,” head coach Colin Crothers said. “Emory is a really good program and is fighting for a national championship in Division III. So we're going to take today and apply that going forward.”
The Mountaineers (2-4) fell to the Eagles (8-1), who rank No. 2 in Division III nationally in the latest ITA rankings. Emory was runner-up in the 2015 tennis national championships in after winning the 2014 title. This year, the team has five student-athletes ranked in the top 35 in the Division III ITA national singles rankings.
In doubles play, the No. 2 spot finished first as Melissa Machado and Megan Mullen fell 6-0 to Daniella Moreno-Kaste/Paula Castro duo. The doubles spot was secured for the Eagles as Clare Cox and Heidi Swope dropped a 6-3 decision at the No. 1.
The No. 3 doubles position was played out and saw a tightly contested match between Mackenzie LaSure and Taylor Bygrave and the Daniela Lopez/Katarina Su team. After trailing 2-0 in early, LaSure/Bygrave battled back to force a tiebreaker. The Mountaineers lost the tiebreaker 7-2, losing the match 8-6.
In singles, Cox started off against No. 14* Harding, falling in a quick 6-1, 6-2 match at the No. 1. Machado took on Taylor Cosme at the No. 3 spot, where she battled the third-ranked nationally* opponent to a close 6-4 loss in set one, before falling 6-3 in the second to give Emory the match point.
At the No. 4, Swope took No. 34* Beatrice Rosen to the wire, dropping a close 8-6 first set before a 6-2 loss in the second.
The lone Appalachian point in the nearly five-hour match came from Rebecca Morse at the No. 5. She came out firing on all cylinders against Daniela Lopez, clipping the eagle quickly with a 6-0 first set. The second set was much more contested going the distance and forcing a tiebreaker. Morse was able to withstand the late push, winning the tiebreaker and the second set, 8-6, giving the freshman her first collegiate win.
The final singles match of the evening was the No. 6, as McKayla Zupan fell 7-5, 6-1 to No. 28* Madison Gordon.
The Mountaineers will go on a one-match road trip Sunday, as they take on Western Carolina in Cullowhee, N.C., before returning home Friday, March 4. First serve Sunday is scheduled for 2 p.m.
* ITA Division III rankings
