ETSU captures highest ranked win in program history

BRISTOL, Tenn. (March 1, 2020) — The Bucs secured their season-best fourth win in a row on Sunday morning as they took down the 49^th-ranked Appalachian State Mountaineers at the Bristol Racquet Club. The win marked the highest ranked win for ETSU in program history. 

The Bucs captured the doubles point starting with Laylo Bakhodirova (Tashkent, Uzbekistan) and Alejandra Morales (Santiago, Chile) taking the No. 1 match at 6-2. Matching the score at the three spot was Michelle de Haan (Drenthe, Netherlands) and Maria Carvajal (Carvajal, Queretaro, Mexico) to give ETSU a 1-0 advantage.  

In singles action, Morales began ETSU’s success with a score of 6-1, 6-3 at No. 2 singles while Andrea Pascual-Larrinaga (Basauri, Spain) got the win, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 at No. 3. Continuing the Bucs’ winning ways at the fourth singles match was Raquel Amaro (Caracas, Venezuela) who defeated her opponent in straight sets, 6-2, 6-0 to give the Bucs the ranked win. 

At the top flight in singles competition, Bakhodirova was up 5-3 in the third set over No. 65 Pisareva.

With the win, the Bucs improve to 7-4 as App State falls to 5-4.

This marked the first ranked win for the Bucs since March 3, 2014 when they beat No. 62 College of Charleston.

Morales is now 7-0 in her last eight singles matches in the season, while Pascual-Larrinaga has won four singles matches in a row.

“I’m very happy for our girls,” said Head Coach Ricardo Rojas. “We played great all weekend and I’m excited to see what’s ahead in the future. We showed a lot of grit and poise in both matches and extremely proud of this group”

Singles Competition

1. Laylo Bakhodirova (ETSU) vs. #65 Pisareva, Sasha (APPW) 6-2, 2-6, 5-3, unfinished 
2. Alejandra Morales (ETSU) def. Earnhardt, Kate (APPW) 6-1, 6-3
3. A. Pascual-Larrinaga (ETSU) def. McLay, Cassie (APPW) 3-6, 6-3, 6-4
4. Raquel Amaro (ETSU) def. Poggi, Virginia (APPW) 6-2, 6-0
5. Maria Carvajal (ETSU) vs. Zacarias, Maria (APPW) 1-6, 1-4, unfinished
6. Yunuen Elizarraras (ETSU) vs. Atay, Selina (APPW) 6-4, 2-0, unfinished

Doubles Competition

1. Laylo Bakhodirova/Alejandra Morales (ETSU) def. Zacarias, Maria/McLay, Cassie (APPW) 6-2
2. Raquel Amaro/A. Pascual-Larrinaga (ETSU) vs. Pisareva, Sasha/Anglesjo, Sandra (APPW) 3-5, unfinished
3. Michelle de Haan/Maria Carvajal (ETSU) def. Atay, Selina/Earnhardt, Kate (APPW) 6-2

Match Notes:
Appalachian State 5-4; National ranking #49 ETSU 7-4
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3); Singles (4,2,3) T-3:13

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