Wednesday, March 28, 2007

TUSCULUM WOMEN EDGE MARS HILL 5-4 IN SAC TENNIS THRILLER

MARS HILL, N.C. --- Heidi von der Lage rallied from a set down at No. 6 singles to secure the winning point as the Tusculum College women's tennis team defeated host Mars Hill College 5-4 in South Atlantic Conference Wednesday. The match was marathon that included a rain delay and a pair of three-set singles points for the Pioneers (10-3, 4-1 SAC).

Tusculum captured two of the three doubles points, including an 8-4 pro set win at the No. 3 flight as Amanda Pike and Jennifer Sparks defeated the MHC duo of Maranda Dellinger and Kim Blythe.

Tusculum jumped out to a 3-2 advantage as the rains came to stop play. Mars Hill came out with wins by Nancie Gruber and Whitney Stroud at No. 2 and No. 3 singles, respectively. Danae Valderrama fought back against Aylin Seyalioglu at No. 1 singles. Seyalioglu won the first set 6-4, but Valderrama answered by winning the final two 6-4, 6-2. Coupled with Pike's 6-4, 6-3 win over Dellinger at the fifth flight, TC led 4-3.

La Rovere tied the match at 4-4 with her 6-4, 6-0 win over Tusculum's Bronwyn Hartley at No. 4 singles, with the final match of the day between von der Lage and Blythe to decide the contest.

Blythe won the first set 6-4, but von der Lage captured the final two sets 6-1, 6-1 to seal the victory for Tusculum.

The Pioneers return home on Thursday to host Anderson University for a 4 p.m. match at the Nichols Tennis Complex.

- TC -

Tusculum 5, Mars Hill 4
Singles
1 - Danae Valderrama (TC) def. Aylin Seyalioglu	4-6, 6-4, 6-2
2 - Nancie Gruber (MHC) def. Jennifer Sparks	6-3, 7-5
3 - Whitney Stroud (MHC) def. Samantha Cantu	6-4, 6-2
4 - Patty La Rovere (MHC) def. Bronwyn Hartley	6-4, 6-0
5 - Amanda Pike (TC) def. Maranda Dellinger	6-4, 6-3
6 - Heidi von der Lage (TC) def. Kim Blythe	4-6, 6-1, 6-1
Doubles
1 - Gruber/Seyalioglu (MHC) def. Caroline Crowe/Hartley	8-4
2 - Valderrama/Cantu (TC) def. Stroud/La Rovere	8-4
3 - Pike/Sparks (TC) def. Dellinger/Blythe	8-4