February 22, 2013

Women's Tennis Hosts Long Beach State and WCU this Weekend

GREENSBORO, N.C. – The UNCG women's tennis program will host nationally ranked No. 46 Long Beach State Friday, Feb. 22 at the Piedmont Indoor Tennis Center at 2 p.m., before hosting it's first Southern Conference competition of the 2013 spring season, Western Carolina Sunday, Feb. 24 at the UNCG tennis courts at 12 p.m.

"It's a big weekend for us," said head coach Jeff Trivette. "I think we will finally feel like the season has started. We have Long Beach State who comes in ranked 46, that's a great challenge for us. And we have Western Carolina to open up our SoCon season. After this weekend, it will be nonstop tennis until the conference tournament."

The Spartans are coming off a victorious 4-3 battle against Wake Forest that was clinched by senior Niltooli Wilkins (Burnsville, Minn./Homeschooled) last Saturday when she won 7-5 against Kathryn Talbert.

Senior Alex Whitehead (Victoria, Australia / Star of the Sea College) won 6-3, 6-2 against Andrea Retolaza, while sophomore Stephanie Falcon (Marietta, Ga. / Walton) took down Brigeta Bercyte, 6-4, 6-3.

Senior Annette Rios (Santa Ana, El Salvador / Liceo Latinoamericano) and sophomore Kayla Gammie (Port St. Lucie, Fla. / Broward Virtual School) fought to win 9-7 in doubles against Karen Forman and Xue Zhang.

Sophomore Stephanie Falcon (Marietta, Ga. / Walton) and junior Dilara Yurtkuran (Istanbul, Turkey / Gunes Koleji) beat Andrea Retolaza and Brigeta Bercyte, 8-6.

Long Beach State (No. 46) is heading east to face three North Carolina teams with UNCG being their first meeting. Long Beach State will face the Spartans after beating Hawai'i, 4-3, and San Diego State, 4-3.

The 49ers own a perfect 4-0 record when playing at home. LBSU has defeated two ranked opponents on its home courts, including No. 46 LSU and No. 65 Hawai'i.

Due to cancelled and postponed matches Western Carolina was just able to pick up their first win of 2013 against Prebyterian, 5-2 on Sunday. The team competes against East Carolina Saturday before heading to Greensboro to dual the Spartans.

- UNCG -