The Georgia Southwestern women's tennis team split a pair of road matches over the weekend to open 2012 Peach Belt Conference play. The Lady Hurricanes won 5-4 at North Georgia on Saturday and lost 9-0 at No. 7 Clayton State on Sunday.
GSW 5, North Georgia 4
Since joining the NCAA and Peach Belt Conference in 2006, Georgia Southwestern had not defeated North Georgia in women's tennis. That was until Saturday. The Lady Hurricanes snapped a six-match losing streak against the Saints and improved their record to 3-1 with a 5-4 win over NGCSU in Dahlonega.
The Lady Hurricanes fell behind 2-1 after doubles play, with the lone win coming at No. 3 where Kalie Douberly and Melinda Vansant posted an 8-4 decision over Nela Handac and Maria Romero.
GSW made its surge in singles, winning at No. 3, 4, 5 and 6.
Vansant was the only GSW player to win in singles and doubles. She coasted at No. 6 singles, defeating Romero 6-0, 6-0.
GSW 0, #7 Clayton State 9
No. 7-ranked Clayton State handed GSW its first PBC loss of the season and second overall, while the Lakers improved to 1-2 overall and 1-0 in conference play.
The closest match on the doubles side was at No. 2, where Mollie McGowan and Ginny Jones lost 8-4 to Hannah Keeling and Martina Dedaj.
Clayton State won five of the six singles matches in straight sets. The one match that saw extra play was at No. 6 where the Lakers' Alyze' Pagal won a thrilling 2-6, 6-2, 10-8 thriller over GSW's Melinda Vansant.
The Lady 'Canes return to the courts on Tuesday when they travel to Shorter for a 2:30 p.m. match.