APSU Women’s Tennis defeats Belmont in opening OVC match

APSU Sports Information

Clarksville, TN – Austin Peay State University women’s tennis team defeated Belmont in dramatic fashion, 4-3, Saturday, at the Governors Indoor Tennis Center.

The Govs (5-5) swept the opening weekend of Ohio Valley Conference play and are now .500 for the season. They also welcomed the return of Claudia Yanes Garcia on Friday in doubles and Yanes Garcia today returned to the singles lineup at the No. 3 position, albeit still playing left-handed.

As for the match, the Bruins (4-10) came out strong winning at No. 3 doubles. Lidia Yanes Garcia and Fabienne Schmidt continued their winning ways at No.1 doubles though, easily dispatching of the Bruins’ team of Erin Allen and Drew Hawkins (6-2). However, the Bruins put together a good performance at No. 2 doubles to take a 1-0 lead going into singles.

Belmont picked up a straight-set win at No. 3 singles to stretch their lead. The Govs responded in a massive way, with the magnificent trio of Lidia, Schmidt, and Helena Kuppig all winning in straight sets to give the Govs the lead.

With a 3-2 lead, the Govs still had Ana Albertson and Brittney Covington to play, only needing one of two to win. Both players lost the first set, but both responded, as each won the second set in their respective matches 6-1. As Albertson and her opponent Terra Sheldon waged an epic battle, two courts over Covington was dismantling her opponent in the deciding set. Covington swept the deciding set 6-0 and was rushed by her on looking teammates to celebrate the win. Albertson unfortunately lost a third-set tiebreaker, but the Govs prevailed to sweep the opening weekend of OVC play.

Austin Peay returns to action next Friday at Tennessee Tech.

Austin Peay 4. Belmont 3

Doubles

1. Lidia Yanes Garcia/Fabienne Schmidt (APSU) def. Erin Allen/Drew Hawkins (BELW) 6-2

2. Maria Plaksina/Terra Sheldon (BELW) def. Ana Albertson/Helena Kuppig (APSU) 6-2

3. Mical Johnson/Sarah Brackin (BELW) def. Brittney Covington/Claudia Yanes Garcia (APSU) 6-0

Singles

1. Lidia Yanes Garcia (APSU) def. Maria Plaksina (BELW) 6-2, 6-0

2. Fabienne Schmidt (APSU) def. Drew Hawkins (BELW) 6-3, 6-4

3. Erin Allen (BELW) def. Claudia Yanes Garcia (APSU) 6-0, 6-1

4. Helena Kuppig (APSU) def. Sarah Brackin (BELW) 6-4, 6-4

5. Terra Sheldon (BELW) def. Ana Albertson (APSU) 6-3, 1-6, 7-6 (7-4)

6. Brittney Covington (APSU) def. Nikki Christiansen (BELW) 4-6, 6-1, 6-0

Order of finish: Doubles (3,1,2); Singles (3,1,2,4,6,5)