2017-18 PBC YEARBOOK
Women’s Tennis
COLUMBUS STATE WINS PBC WOMEN’S TENNIS TOURNAMENT
FLORENCE, SC – The top-seeded Columbus State Cougars got three singles points on straight-set
wins to beat second-seeded Georgia College and capture the 2018 PBC women’s tennis tournament
title on Sunday in Florence. The championship is the second straight for the Cougars, who improve
to 22-2 on the season. Georgia College (15-7) was making their first appearance in the championship
match since 2003.
CSU, ranked #4 in the nation in the latest ITA poll, got points at first and third doubles to begin the
match. The #3 team of Marleen Tilgner and Giorgia Vitale won 8-3 over GC’s Emma Niemi and Paula
Garriga. CSU’s #1 team of Candice Paya and Natalia Kattah Paz, ranked #29 in the nation, then beat
GC’s Jena Kelly and Valeria Lopez 8-3.
GC took their point at #2 doubles as the team of Emilia Richter and Kristen Jones were down 7-6 to
Columbus State’s Noa Davico and Beatriz Lopez. Richter and Jones won the 14thand 15thgame to
hold an 8-7 lead, but CSU tied it up and forced a tiebreak. The two teams were tied at six each in the
tiebreak before Richter and Jones ran off two points to take the match.
That momentum did not carry over into singles as Columbus State jumped out early in third and
fourth singles. At #4, CSU’s Tilgner, ranked #62 in the country, kept Jones off balance in a 6-1, 6-2
win. CSU’s Vitale was equally effective at #3 singles, taking down Richter 6-2, 6-0.
Columbus State’s Luise Sachs wrapped up the title at #6 singles. She defeated GC’s Niemi 6-2, 6-2.
Columbus State’s Paya and Kattah Paz were named the PBC Doubles Most Valuable Players. The pair
went 3-0 in the tournament at #1 doubles. Georgia College’s Jena Kelly was named the singles MVP
with a 2-0 mark for the Bobcats at #1 singles.
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