Agate

MT. PLEASANT, S.C. – For the first time in the school’s Division I era, the Elon University women’s tennis team came away victorious against College of Charleston, as the 68th-ranked Phoenix rallied for a 5-2 win over the 75th-ranked Cougars on Wednesday, March 27, at Patriots Point.
 
Elon improves to 15-3 overall and 5-2 in Southern Conference play with the win, its fourth straight. The Phoenix went into today 0-13 against College of Charleston since making the transition to the Division I ranks.

"Bob and I are very proud of the strong energy and positive determination of the team today," said Elon head coach Elizabeth Anderson. The team came out strong in singles with very good energy on the court. It was an outstanding team effort and every player contributed to this win."
 
With the match tied at 2-all, both squads needed two more points to clinch the match win. Bryn Khoury pushed the Phoenix out to a 3-2 lead with a three-set win against Jenny Falcone. Khoury won the first set, 6-3, but fell in the second, 6-1. In the third, the junior rallied for a 6-1 win to give her team momentum.
 
Jordan Johnston clinched the match for the maroon and gold at No. 1, rallying for yet another three-set win against this week’s SoCon Player of the Week, Christin Newman. Johnston won the first set, 6-1, but fell in the second, 6-3. In the third, the junior from Snellville, Ga., came back strong with a 6-1 decision to seal it.
 
Johnston and Frida Jansaker were the first team to finish doubles play, as Elon’s top tandem defeated College of Charleston’s Irene Viana and Katherine Schofield, 8-3, to move their season record to 16-2. But the Cougars won the doubles point after claiming victories at No. 2 and 3.
 
Jansaker evened the match at 1-all after the junior registered a 6-4, 6-1, victory in straight sets against Kelly Kambourelis at No. 2 singles. Jansaker improves to 16-3 on the year with the win.
 
After the Cougars retained the lead with a win at No. 3, the Phoenix tied the match at 2-all with a win at No. 5 by Barbora Lazarova. Lazarova claimed a 6-4, 6-2, decision versus CofC’s Samantha Maddox to improve her season record to 12-7.
 
Elon grinded out the next two points for the win, its first in 13 tries against the Cougars.
 
Maria Camara Ruiz won by retirement at No. 6 for the Phoenix. She split the first two sets with CofC’s Schofield.
 
The Phoenix returns to action on April 6 at Wofford.