PORTSMOUTH – Karley Stites pulled out a hard-fought straight set victory in the deciding match Tuesday afternoon on the Dr. William E. Daehler Tennis Center courts as Shawnee State picked up its second conference victory of the season with a 5-4 win against Pikeville. The Bears trailed 4-3 with two singles matches to play but pulled out the needed victories for the team win.
With Pikeville only traveling four players, the Bears' No. 3 doubles team of Aubrey Johnson and Abbi Morrow picked up their school record seventh victory together in this doubles slot with a walkover victory.
Shawnee State fell in the top doubles slot by an 8-2 margin. The Bears No. 2 doubles team of Kyra Keeton and Stites nearly made it 2-1 in favor of Shawnee State, but Pikeville came away with an 8-6 win in this doubles slot to carry a 2-1 advantage into singles play.
Pikeville was forced to concede the fifth and sixth doubles positions as Johnson (No. 5) and Carmen Staton (No. 6) each received walkover victories. However, the visitors would quickly get those two matches back as Pikeville's No. 1 and No. 2 players each notched 6-1, 6-0 victories. This left the Bears facing a 4-3 deficit with two matches left on the court.
At No. 4 Brianna Boggs cruised to a 6-2 opening set win, putting herself on the brink of victory. In the second set, she found herself tied at three-all with her counterpart. However, Boggs regained control late as she won three of the final four games to clinch a 6-4 second set victory, tying the team score at 4-4 with one match remaining on the court.
Playing at No. 3 singles, Stites quickly found herself down 3-0 in the opening set. However, she would take seven of the next nine games and secure a 7-5 opening set victory. In her second set, it was Stites that jumped out to an early 4-1 lead. However, Pikeville's No. 3 player looked to be in a position to rally as she broke serve and pulled within a game at 4-3.
After quick break following the change, Stites regained her control of the match broke serve back and held her own serve to take a 6-3 win in the second set. That team point was ultimately the difference in the Bears' 5-4 win.
Shawnee State is now 2-0 all-time in 5-4 matches under Head Coach Rob Appell. To find the last time Shawnee State won a 5-4 match in conference play, you have to go all the way back to the 1993 season when the Bears pulled out a 5-4 victory at Walsh when those two schools were a member of the Mid-Ohio Conference.
Tennis will now head back on the road for its final away match of the season next Tuesday, April 8 as it travels to Bluefield. First serve for that match will be at 2 p.m.
Full Results
Shawnee State 5, Pikeville 4
Doubles
1: Thais Bezerra/Mounia Sami (UPIKE) def. Shelbie Wulfekamp/Brianna Boggs (SSU), 8-2
2: Shae Criswell/(UPIKE) def. Kyra Keeton/Karley Stites (SSU), 8-6
3: Aubrey Johnson/Abbi Morrow (SSU) def. walkover (UPIKE)
Singles
1: Mounia Sami (UPIKE) def. Kyra Keeton (SSU), 6-1, 6-0
2: Thais Bezerra (UPIKE) def. Shelbie Wulfekamp (SSU), 6-1, 6-0
3: Karley Stites (SSU) def. Makayla Hydin (UPIKE), 7-5, 6-3
4: Brianna Boggs (SSU) def. Shae Criswell (UPIKE), 6-2, 6-4
5: Aubrey Johnson (SSU) def. walkover (UPIKE)
6: Carmen Staton (SSU) def. walkover (UPIKE)
