April 6, 2011

 PEMBROKE – Maricel Quintero and Madeline DiNunzio toughed out a tight 8-6 win at No. 3 doubles to get UNCP on the board early, but visiting and 14th-ranked Francis Marion captured the other two doubles matches, as well as five singles matches in straight sets, to defeat UNCP, 7-2, on Wednesday afternoon in Pembroke.

The setback dropped UNCP (6-14, 1-10 PBC) to 0-8 this season against nationally ranked teams, including five losses to teams ranked inside the Intercollegiate Tennis Association's top 15. The triumph marked the second-straight league win for the Patriots (11-6, 7-5) who snapped a three-match road losing streak as well.

The ninth-ranked doubles tandem of Jitka Gavdunova and Mona Blauen yielded just one game in turning back UNCP's Jenna McGary and Mia Winterbottom, with Francis Marion stretching its team lead out to 2-0 after Kerry Hall and Kimberley Hurter finished off an 8-2 win over Christian Minnick and Hannah Herlocker on court No. 2. Quintero/Dinunzio would cut the deficit in half for the Braves, however, by holding off Caitlin Siney and Rachel Gaster at No. 3 doubles and grabbing some momentum heading into singles play.

Gavdunova, the 16th-ranked singles player in the latest national poll by the ITA, surrendered just three games in ousting McGary 6-1, 6-2 in the featured match at No. 1 singles, while Hall turned back DiNunzio on court No. 5, 6-0 and 6-3. Hurter would clinch the team victory for the Patriots moments later by registering a 6-2, 6-2 win over Quintero at No. 4 singles.

Blauen, the 44th-ranked singles player in the ITA listing, booked a 6-4, 6-1 win over Winterbottom at No. 2 singles, while Gaster rallied back from an opening set loss at No. 6 singles to beat Minnick 4-6, 6-4, 10-5. Herlocker grabbed UNCP's lone singles victory by virtue of a 5-7, 6-0, 10-5 triumph over Siney.

The Braves will continue their three-match home stand on Saturday when they welcome No. 35 Augusta State to Pembroke for an 11 a.m. matchup at UNCP's Varsity Tennis Courts. Admission to all UNCP tennis home matches is free.

 

 

#14 Francis Marion 7, UNC Pembroke 2
Apr 6, 2011 at Pembroke, N.C. (Varsity Tennis Courts)

Singles competition

1. #16 Jitka Gavdunova (FMU) def. Jenna McGary (UNCP) 6-1, 6-2

2. #44 Mona Blauen (FMU) def. Mia Winterbottom (UNCP) 6-4, 6-1

3. Hannah Herlocker (UNCP) def. Caitlin Siney (FMU) 5-7, 6-0, 10-5

4. Kimberley Hurter (FMU) def. Maricel Quintero (UNCP) 6-2, 6-2

5. Kerry Hall (FMU) def. Madeline DiNunzio (UNCP) 6-0, 6-3

6. Rachel Gaster (FMU) def. Christian Minnick (UNCP) 4-6, 6-4, 10-5

Doubles competition

1. #9 Jitka Gavdunova/Mona Blauen (FMU) def. Jenna McGary/Mia Winterbottom (UNCP) 8-1

2. Kerry Hall/Kimberley Hurter (FMU) def. Christian Minnick/Hannah Herlocker (UNCP) 8-2

3. Maricel Quintero/Madeline DiNunzio (UNCP) def. Caitlin Siney/Rachel Gaster (FMU) 8-6