Women’s Tennis Readies for Lander on Monday

Posted: Feb 16, 2014

ANDERSON, S.C. - Suffering its first South Atlantic Conference regular-season setback in 326 days, Anderson University women's tennis returns to the courts on Monday as it heads to Peach Belt Conference opponent Lander. First serve from Greenwood is set for 2 p.m.

The Trojans
After the experience duo of Avery Owens and Karen Ching earned an 8-4 decision at No. 1 doubles, AU was unable to find many victories in singles action as freshman Rebecca Bruning was the lone Trojan to earn a singles team point. Bruning, who made her first appearance for the Black and Gold, earned a 6-2, 7-5 win over Newberry's Romina Adum at the No. 3 position.

Owens, who went undefeated in SAC singles action a season ago, was unable to build off her impressive 2013 record and fell to Susana Aguirre 6-1, 6-4 at the No. 1 spot. It was Owens' first loss in a conference match since falling to Wingate's Olivia Poole on April 3, 2012.

With the loss, the Trojans are 2-3 in season openers in their last five seasons. Last year, Anderson posted a 9-0 win over now-SAC opponent Coker.

The Bearcats
Lander comes into Monday's match with a perfect 2-0 record after defeating Coker 9-0 on Feb. 2 and Limestone in its home opener on Saturday, 7-2. Last season, the Bearcats closed the year with a 9-11 record and a 5-8 PBC mark.

This season, junior Marion Courbis leads the Bearcats as she carries a perfect 2-0 record in both singles and doubles on the young season. In her most recent result, Courbis claimed a 7-5, 7-6 win over Limestone's Carolina Lainez at the No. 1 position. Prior to the singles win, the junior teamed up with senior Cayce Bradley and earned an 8-6 win at No. 1 doubles.

Bradley, one of three seniors on the squad, posted the best singles record on the team in 2013, closing the year with an 11-5 record, playing at three different positions. In doubles, Bradley was paired with Carolina Lainez and earned an 11-6 mark, playing the majority of the season at the No. 2 spot.

The Series
After not playing in 2012, Anderson defeated Lander on Feb. 15, 2012, 7-2, at Max Grubbs Memorial Courts in the last meeting between the teams. Owens and Lindsay Gregory are the only Trojans on this season's roster to have wins against Lander, as Owens notched a win at No. 2, while Gregory grabbed a three-set win at No. 6 en route to the triumph.