Minnick Wins Flight, Larsson Falls In Finals

AUGUSTA, Ga. – Christian Minnick defeated USC Aiken's Courtney Hall in straight sets to take home individual flight medalist honors, while newcomer Anna Larsson posted a pair of victories before falling in the Flight 1 championship match to highlight action for the UNCP tennis team over the weekend at the Chick-Fil-A Collegiate Tennis Championships in Augusta, Ga.

Minnick, a Laurinburg native, eased past Florida Community College's Devin Goodroe in the quarterfinals by a 6-2, 6-4 count, to punch her ticket to the finals against a fellow Peach Belt Conference foe in Hall. Minnick posted a 6-3 win in the first set, but Hall, a sophomore for the Pacers, pushed the UNCP junior to a tiebreaker, before falling 7-6 (7-3).

Larsson completely upended top-seeded Arina Yakovtseva, 6-0 and 6-2, in her opening match of the day, and eased past Georgia College's Mara Rojas 6-2, 6-4 in the semifinals. Larsson would have her day cut unexpectedly short in the finals, however, where she lost to Berry's Marina Lebrao by 6-4, 6-2 scores.

Jenna McGary dropped her opening tilt of the day to USC Aiken's Stephanie Humphrey by 6-0, 6-1 scores, but rebounded in her consolation opener where dismantled Augusta State's Luiza Pires, 6-1 and 6-0. Newcomer Beverly Vause rebounded from her 6-2, 6-4 quarterfinal loss to Hall to oust Abraham Baldwin's Kim Landrum in the consolation finals, 7-6 (7-4) and 6-3.

The event concluded fall competition for the Braves who will now get a 4-month break from competition before opening up their 2010 campaign on February 10 against Barton at home.