Dukes Fall 5-2 to NC State

Saturday, February 28

Raleigh, N.C.

4 p.m.

James Madison University

NC State

2/28/2015 10:07:00 PM | Women's Tennis

RALEIGH, N.C. – James Madison women's tennis dropped a 5-2 decision at NC State inside the J.W. Isenhour Center on Saturday evening as the Dukes fell to 5-3 overall and the Wolfpack improved to 6-4 this dual season.

"I thought today we played some of the best tennis of the semester," Head Coach James Bryce said. "Even though we lost as a team, it felt like a win. The girls stayed committed to what we asked them to do and fought for every point. Moving into spring break and our home matches, I am happy with the progress we showed."

NC State swept the doubles matches before picking up the first two singles points with victories at the No. 1 and 4 positions.

JMU was able to cut into the Wolfpack's lead with a win by sophomore Rachel Nelson at No. 2 singles. After taking a 1-0 lead over Liza Fieldsend with a 6-4 win in set one, Nelson fell 6-0 in set two to see the match tied at 1-all. Nelson regrouped and took Fieldsend down 6-4 in set three to clinch the point for the Dukes.

The Wolfpack, however, used a three-set battle at No. 3 singles to clinch match point. Senior Sarah Khan took an early 1-0 lead over Elisha Hande with a 7-5 victory in set one. In set two, the pair battled to a tiebreaker that fell in favor of Hande 7-6 (7-2), who then earned a 6-0 victory in set three for the point.

The Dukes' second point of the day came from sophomore Alex Huie at No. 6 singles. After falling behind in set one (6-1) to Natalia Janowicz, she tied the match with a 7-5 win in set two before prevailing 6-1 in set three for the point.

JMU next heads to Florida for a three-match swing over spring break. The Dukes begin the trip with Lehigh on March 11 in Kissimmee, Fla., at 1 p.m. They make a brief stop in Winter Park, Fla., to face Bucknell on March 12 at 11 a.m. before returning to Kissimmee to face Evansville on March 13 at 9:30 a.m.

NC State 5, JMU 2
Singles
1. Joanna Nalborska (ST) def. Taylor Pinchoff (JMU) 6-2, 6-2
2. Rachel Nelson (JMU) def. Liza Fieldsend (ST) 6-4, 0-6, 6-4
3. Elisha Hande (ST) def. Sarah Khan (JMU) 7-5, 6-7 (2-7), 6-0
4. Sophie Nelson (ST) def. Dylan Owens (JMU) 6-4, 6-1
5. Tayla Stenta (ST) def. Kimmy Herrock (JMU) 6-4, 7-5
6. Alex Huie (JMU) def. Natalia Janowicz (ST) 1-6, 7-5, 6-1
Order of Finish: 1, 4, 2, 3*, 5, 6
Doubles
1. Joanna Nalborska/Elisha Hande (ST) def. Taylor Pinchoff/Rachel Nelson (JMU) 6-2
2. Liza Fieldsend/Natalia Janowicz (ST) def. Sarah Khan/Kimmy Herrock (JMU) 6-1
3. Sophie Nelson/Tayla Stenta (ST) def. Alex Huie/Rebecca Harris (JMU) 6-3
Order of Finish: 1, 2*, 3