Tennis swept by PBC leading Cougars

By Heath Nunn
Sports Writer

March 29, 2012

Photo by Mindy Hubbard

UNCP's Mia Winterbottom returns a shot earlier this season. Winterbottom and the Lady Braves lost 9-0 to Columbus State on March 18.

Seventh ranked Columbus State captured all three doubles matches and swept singles competition to give them a 9-0 shutout over the visiting Lady Braves tennis team in PBC women's tennis action on March 18 at the Mary V. Blackmon Tennis Center.

The conference leading Cougars (14-0, 4-0 PBC) only gave up seven games the entire day to the visiting Braves and took the early 3-0 lead over the Lady Braves (8-9, 0-6) in doubles competition.

The Lady Braves' pair of freshman Shelby Bickel and sophomore Hannah Herlocker were easily defeated at court No. 1 in doubles by Columbus States's Carolin Weikard and Lilica Tomic by a score of 8-1.

The duo of Andrea Redrado and Renata Paiva registered an 8-4 win on court No. 2 over the Black and Gold's tandem of junior Mia Winterbottom and freshman Leigh-Anne McAfee.

CSU's Olivera Jokic and Sandra Jung finished doubles competition with an 8-2 victory over UNCP's Madeline DiNunzio and Monica Espitia on court No. 3.

In singles action 46th ranked Paola Ciqui defeated the Black and Gold's Winterbottom in straight sets 6- 2, 6-1 on court No. 1.

The Lady Braves' McAfee split the first two sets against Weikard, who is ranked 26th in the nation, 3- 6, 6-2, before falling in a long third set by the score of 10-5 on court No. 2. This win clinched the match for the home standing Cougars.

Columbus State's Andrea Redrado swept Bickel 6-0, 6-0 on court No. 4 to hand the Black and Gold another singles loss.

The Cougar's Madeline Johnson eased by the Lady Braves' Herlocker in two sets by recording scores of 6-0, 6-1 on court No. 3 while Jung defeated UNCP's DiNunzio 6-3, 6-0 on court five.

Columbus State's Paiva compeleted the sweep of the Lady Braves by defeating UNCP's Espitia with comanding scores of 7-5, 6-2 to end the day.