PEMBROKE, N.C. -- Columbus State wrapped up the regular season in style on Monday defeating North Carolina-Pembroke 5-1 in Peach Belt Conference action. The match took place at the UNCP Varsity Tennis Courts.
The Lady Cougars finish the regular season with a 17-4 record and a 12-1 mark inside the conference. CSU will be the second seed in this week's PBC tournament.
CSU swept doubles play to grab an early 3-0 advantage on UNC Pembroke (11-11, 2-11 PBC). At the top spot, the 10th-ranked duo of Paola Cigui and Beatriz Leon blew by Shelby Bickel and Hannah Herlocker 8-2. Elena Preadca and Camila Tobar were even better at second doubles winning their match 8-1 versus Gabriela van Ooststroom and Monica Espitia. Laura Chapman and Olivera Jokic also won 8-1 against Morgan Sheehan and Madeline DiNunzio at third doubles.
Columbus State got two quick wins at first and second singles to claim the victory. At the top spot, second-ranked Cigui downed Leigh-Anne McAfee 6-2, 6-1. She finished the regular season with a 17-3 singles record. Fourteenth-ranked Leon also collected a win on Monday defeating Shelby Bickel 6-1, 6-0 at second singles.
The Lady Cougars were also winning the other three singles matches when play was called. At third singles, Tobar was up 6-3, 4-1 on Herlocker while Chapman was leading Ooststroom 6-2, 3-0 at the fourth spot. Preadca was pitching the shutout at fifth singles winning 6-0, 3-0 when play was suspended.
UNC Pembroke recorded its win at sixth singles where CSU forfeited the match to Espitia.
