ELON, N.C. – Whitney Butcher outlasted Samantha Duggan 6-7 (7-5), 6-2, 6-1 at No. 5 singles to propel Elon to a 4-3 Southern Conference women’s tennis victory over Chattanooga Friday afternoon at the Jimmy Powell Tennis Center.
 
Trailing 3-1, the Phoenix (11-9 overall, 5-3 SoCon) rallied back with three consecutive singles wins to continue the most successful season of the program’s tenure in the Southern Conference and as an official NCAA Division I member. Elon is in its fourth campaign in the SoCon and eighth official season at the Division I level.
 
“I’m really proud of the way our girls fought back and competed in singles,” Phoenix coach Elizabeth Perry said. “It was great to see Whitney come from behind to clinch the match for us.”
 
The Mocs (6-14, 1-5) prevailed in doubles to forge the early 1-0 lead. Bonnie Adams and Beata Knizat toppled Kelley Moore and Hayley Wahl 8-0 at No. 2, but Butcher and Paige Kensrue ousted Duggan and Kate Ksiezopolski 8-2 at No. 3.
 
Anastasia Zhukova and Lindsey Ballard then out-battled Deanna Bailey and Elon captain Jenn Tucci by an 8-5 margin at No. 1, securing the doubles point for Chattanooga. The Zhukova/Ballard duo earned First Team All-Southern Conference accolades last season.
 
Moore evened the score at 1-1, posting a 6-2, 6-3 triumph over Adams at No. 3 singles. No. 39 Zhukova – the 2006 Southern Conference Player of the Year – defeated Bailey 6-0, 6-2 at No. 1 while Ballard beat Tucci 6-3, 6-3 at No. 2 to give the Mocs a 3-1 advantage. Zhukova (first team) and Ballard (second team) both collected all-conference singles honors last year.
 
Kensrue decisioned Knizat 6-4, 6-2 at No. 4 and Alli Benton foiled Ksiezopolski 6-3, 6-3 at No. 6, setting the stage for Butcher’s come-from-behind, match-clinching heroics at No. 5.
 
Appalachian State hosts Chattanooga at 1 p.m. Saturday and Elon at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday.
 

– ELON –