Lady Braves netters grab first PBC win

By Heath Nunn
Sports Writer

April 19, 2012

Photo by Mindy Hubbard

UNCP junior Mia Winterbottom returns a shot in a match earlier this year. Winterbottom has had a strong showing at the one spot for the Lady Braves this year.

The Lady Braves tennis team ended their five game losing streak with a 9-0 win against Montevallo on April 6 at Montevallo Varsity Tennis Courts.

UNCP swept Montevallo in all three doubles matches and then swept singles play to give them the shutout.

No. 1 Mia Winterbottom and Hannah Herlocker put the Lady Braves on the board when they defeated Montevallo's Niki Polcerova and Meagan Stevens 8-3.

The Black and Gold tandem of Madeline DiNunzio and Monica Espitia defeated Amy McGucken and Yulia Shetsova 8-3 on court three.

On court No. 2, Leigh- Anne McAfee and Shelby Bickel of UNCP fought off Helene Nordgreen and Lauren Blair in a tough match and were able to defeat the pair by a score of 9-7 giving UNCP the 3-0 lead heading into singles competition.

DiNunzio and Espitia both only allowed three games against McGucken and Shvetsova at No. 5 and 6 singles 6-0, 6-3 and 6-2, 6-1, respectively in the first two sets of singles play.

Bickel only allowed two games on court No. 4 against Stevens by winning in straight sets 6-1, 6-1. McAfee captured the seventh win for the Lady Braves as she defeated Nordgreen in two sets by scores of 6-3, 6-2.

Winterbottom and Herlocker won their matches by retirement.

With the win the Lady Braves are now 1-9 in PBC action this year. This win marks the first win for the Black and Gold since defeating Catawba at home on March 14.