Feb. 14, 2010

Final Stats

STATESBORO, Ga. - It took a dramatic comeback in her first dual match of the season, but junior Emilia Milovanovic made her season debut with a dramatic come-from-behind win in a three-set tiebreaker to lift the USC Upstate women's tennis team to a 4-3 win over Georgia Southern on Valentine Day's Sunday at the Hanner Tennis Complex.

Down 6-3 in a third-set tiebreaker, Milovanovic fought off three straight match points and went on to take the tiebreaker, 9-7 and complete the 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (9-7) win over Melanie Rolle at No. 3 singles, clinching the match for the Spartans (2-0 overall).

The Spartans fought off the determined Eagles (2-2 overall), despite losing a split-decision doubles point in a super-set tiebreaker at No. 3 doubles. After falling at No. 2 doubles, the freshmen duo of Monica Pezzotti and Francisca Valderrama downed Ali Beavers and Krisit Kegerreis, 9-7, at No. 1, setting up the climatic match at No. 3 doubles, where freshman Simona Cacciuttolo and sophomore Ana-Sofia Camberos narrowly fell, 9-8 (7-5), to Natalie Maffett and Jessica Fuller.

The Spartans won four first sets to start to take back momentum and Valderrama posted a 6-2, 6-2 win over Maffett at No. 2 singles to tie the match. Camberos added a 6-4, 6-4 win over Allison Beeler at No. 6 to give Upstate a 2-1 lead, but a loss at No. 1 singles tied the match, setting up the dramatic finish.

After a 6-1 first-set win, Cacciuttolo lost 4-6 in the second set to Ashley Hungerford and fell behind, 4-1, in the third set. However, the poised freshman came back to win five straight games to take the No. 5 singles match, setting up Milovanovic's win at No. 3 singles. The Eagles took the final point in a super-set tiebreaker at No. 4 singles.

The Spartans now return home to open their Atlantic Sun Conference season on Friday when Kennesaw State comes to the Upstate Tennis Complex for a 1 p.m. contest.

Tennis Match Results
USC Upstate 4, Georgia Southern 3
 Singles competition
1. Ali Beavers (GSU) def. Monica Pezzotti (UPSTW) 6-2, 6-4
2. Francisca Valderrama (UPSTW) def. Natalie Maffett (GSU) 6-2, 6-2
3. Emilia Milovanovic (UPSTW) def. Melanie Rolle (GSU) 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (9-7)
4. Krisit Kegerreis (GSU) def. Cinthya Lazaro (UPSTW) 7-6 (9-7), 4-6, 10-7
5. Simona Cacciuttolo (UPSTW) def. Ashley Hungerford (GSU) 6-1, 4-6, 6-4
6. Ana-Sofia Camberos (UPSTW) def. Allison Beeler (GSU) 6-4, 6-4
 Doubles competition
1. Monica Pezzotti/Francisca Valderrama (UPSTW) def. Ali Beavers/
Krisit Kegerreis (GSU) 9-7
2. Ashley Hungerford/Melanie Rolle (GSU) def. Emilia Milovanovic/
Cinthya Lazaro (UPSTW) 8-2
3. Natalie Maffett/Jessica Fuller (GSU) def. Simona Cacciuttolo/
Ana-Sofia Camberos (UPSTW) 9-8 (7-5)
Match Notes:
USC Upstate 2-0
Georgia Southern 2-2
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1,3); Singles (2,6,1,5,3,4)