UNCG moves to top of SoCon standings with 6-1 win at App State

Kayla Gammie (left) and Annette Rios (Photo by Dano Keeney)

BOONE, N.C. – UNCG picked up a 6-1 road win over Appalachian State on Wednesday to remain perfect in Southern Conference play and move into a tie atop the league standings.

UNCG won its fifth straight to move to 10-4 on the year, pulling the Spartans even with College of Charleston at 5-0 in the league.

The Spartans swept through doubles to get things started then won at the top five singles flights.

In doubles play, Kayla Gammie and Annette Rios won their eighth straight match at No. 3, downing Kim-Lea Dinh and Blakeley Bean, 8-2. Devon Sutherland and Alex Whitehead won their sixth straight at No. 2, outlasting Gisela Fernandez and Gabriela Celi by a 9-7 score to clinch the point. At No. 1, Lucy Dougherty and Niltooli Wilkins picked up an 8-5 win over Ellie Linsell and Jennifer Ansari to complete the sweep.

Dougherty ran her singles win streak to five straight with a 6-0, 6-2 win over Jessica Thaggard at No. 4. Whitehead then topped Ansari at No. 2, picking up a 6-3, 6-2 victory.

Appalachian State (9-7, 2-3 SoCon) avoided the shutout with a win at No. 6, with Gabby Gabriel knocking off Sutherland, 6-3, 6-4.

UNCG freshman Stephanie Falcon picked up her 20th win of the season with a 6-3, 6-4 win over Linh at No. 5 to clinch the match, and Rios rebounded from a first-set loss to take a 4-6, 6-1, 6-4 win over Celi at No. 3.

Wilkins closed things out with a 2-6, 6-3, 6-2 win over Linsell at No. 1, overcoming her first lost set in league play to win her 13th straight match. The reigning SoCon Player of the Week moved to 23-6 overall and needs just seven more wins in her quest to set the UNCG single-season wins record.

UNCG returns to action Saturday at noon when it hosts Wofford at the UNCG Tennis Courts. The Spartans will be playing on campus for the first time since Feb. 21.

AGATE
UNCG 6, Appalachian State 1

Singles competition
1. Niltooli Wilkins (UNCG) def. Ellie Linsell (ASU) 2-6, 6-3, 6-2
2. Alex Whitehead (UNCG) def. Jennifer Ansari (ASU) 6-3, 6-2
3. Annette Rios (UNCG) def. Gabriela Celi (ASU) 4-6, 6-1, 6-4
4. Lucy Dougherty (UNCG) def. Jessica Thaggard (ASU) 6-0, 6-2
5. Stephanie Falcon (UNCG) def. Kim-Lea Dinh (ASU) 6-3, 6-4
6. Gabby Gabriel (ASU) def. Devon Sutherland (UNCG) 6-3, 6-4

Doubles competition
1. Niltooli Wilkins/Lucy Dougherty (UNCG) def. Ellie Linsell/Jennifer Ansari (ASU) 8-5
2. Alex Whitehead/Devon Sutherland (UNCG) def. Gisela Fernandez/Gabriela Celi (ASU) 9-7
3. Annette Rios/Kayla Gammie (UNCG) def. Kim-Lea Dinh/Blakeley Bean (ASU) 8-2

Match Notes:
UNCG 10-4, 5-0 SoCon
Appalachian State 9-7, 2-3 SoCon
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2,1); Singles (4,2,6,5,3,1)
Wilkins / Dougherty ranked No. 9 in Carolina Region.
Niltooli Wilkins ranked No. 17 in Carolina Region.
Weather: Fair and Breezy, 68 deg, Wind gusts to 35 mph.
T-3:10  A-41

- UNCG -