Lady Braves Defeat Malone With Singles Sweep

HILTON HEAD, S.C. – Malone captured the first doubles win of the day, but UNCP responded by taking final two matches in doubles play and six straight-set singles victories to post a 8-1 victory on Tuesday afternoon at the Hilton Head Beach and Tennis Resort. 

Kim Knisley and Alanna Phillips captured the only point for Malone (3-5) at No. 1 doubles over Mia Winterbottom and Shelby Bickel, but UNCP (4-6) cruised the rest of the way out en route to its fourth victory of the season. Leigh-Anne McAfee and Hannah Herlocker yielded only two GAMES at No. 2 doubles, 8-2, against Kaley Kahoun and Julianna Blaisdell, before Madeline DiNunzio and Beverly Vause ousted Janelle Linder and Marie Konstan, 8-3, on court No. 3. 

The Lady Braves swept singles play as Winterbottom defeated Knisley 6-1, 6-1 in the featured match on court No. 1. McAfee split the first two sets of her match at No. 2 singles with Phillips, but won the tiebreaker set, 10-5, while Herlocker upended Kahoun 6-0, 6-2 at No. 3 singles. Bickel and DiNunzio surrendered just one GAME in each of their matches at court Nos. 4 and 5 over Linder and Konstan, respectively, 6-0, 6-1. Monica Espitia finished out the day with a 6-3, 6-1 win over Blaisdell at No. 6 singles. 

The Lady Braves will return to action on Thursday to take on Ashland (13-5) and Seton Hill (5-7). Match times are set for 8 a.m. and 6:30 p.m., respectively.