Lady Pirates Saintly In 9-0 Win Over Hilltoppers

LAS VEGAS, Nev. - The top-ranked and two-time defending NCAA Division II national champion Armstrong Atlantic State women's tennis team celebrated St. Patrick's Day with a 9-0 victory over St. Edward's on Wednesday at the Darling Tennis Center in Las Vegas.

The Lady Pirates (17-0) wrap up the trip to Nevada with a perfect 3-0 mark and extend their perfect season, while also extending their current winning streak to 32 dating back to last season. St. Edward's (6-8) also wrapped up its action in Vegas with an 0-3 mark.

AASU dropped just three games in doubles in taking a 3-0 lead. The third-ranked duo of Martina Beckmann and Alida Muller-Wehlau blanked the No. 22-ranked duo of Paige Rachel and Audrey Tompkins, 8-0, at No. 1 doubles. 15th-ranked Kathleen Henry and Tina Ronel beat Mary Bain and Elizabeth Jacobi, 8-2, at No. 2 doubles while Alisa Kagukina and Sona Novakova teamed to beat Heather Brien and Caryn McGraw, 8-1, at No. 3 doubles.

The Lady Pirates then won all six singles matches in straight sets. Top-ranked Novakova beat Rachel, 6-0, 6-1, at No. 1 singles and fifth-ranked Muller-Wehlau downed 46th-ranked Tompkins, 6-1, 6-0, at No. 2 singles. 38th-ranked Ronel beat Bain, 6-4, 6-0, at No. 3 singles.

24th-ranked Beckmann defeated Jacobi, 6-2, 6-4, at No. 4 singles and Henry beat Brien, 7-5, 6-0, at No. 5 singles. Kagukina finished off AASU's singles sweep with a 6-0, 6-0 win over McGraw at No. 6 singles.

AASU returns to action on Sunday, March 28, visiting No. 4-ranked Francis Marion for a 2:00 p.m. match in Florence, S.C.