Rock Hill, S.C. – The top seeded Winthrop Eagles earned its 8th Big South Championship in ten years after defeating No. 3 seed Coastal Carolina, 4-1 this afternoon.  

The Winthrop Eagles gained momentum going into singles play by earning the doubles point.  Sara Abutovic and Yelena Fadina defeated Tina Petkova and Maria Camberos, 8-3 in the No. 2, while teammates Larisa Bekmetova and Lisa Wilkinson topped Kim Webb and Sofie Ahlberg, also by a score of 8-3 in the No. 3.  The match-up of Elizaveta Zaytseva and Patricia Coimbra of Winthrop vs. Amy Pazahanick and Lexi Bolesky left the No. 1 flight unfinished at 5-4 in favor of Winthrop. 

With wins at the No. 1 flight and No. 5 flight, Winthrop only needed one more win to secure the title.  Zaytseva downed Pazahanick, 6-1, 6-0 in the No. 1, while Lady Eagle, Bekmetova defeated Ahlberg, 6-3, 6-1 in the No. 5.  The Coastal team attempted to come back with Bolesky winning against Coimbra, 7-6, 6-3 at the No. 2 bringing the score to 3-1.  At this point in the match, all the attention turned to the No. 3 flight, which would ultimately decide Winthrop’s victory.  Abutovic came through for her team and triumphed over Petkova, 7-5, 6-3.

With the win, Winthrop improves to 13-11 overall, and with the Big South title in hand earns the automatic bid to the NCAA women’s tennis tournament.  The Chanticleers end their season 16-11.

Doubles
No. 1 –  Zaytseva/Coimbra (WU) vs. Pazahanick/Bolesky (CCU) 5-4 unfinished
No. 2 – Abutovic/Fadina (WU) def. Petkova/Camberos (CCU) 8-3
No. 3 – Bekmetova/Wilkinson (WU) def. Webb/Ahlberg (CCU) 8-3

Singles
No. 1 – Elizaveta Zaytseva (WU) def. Amy Pazahanick (CCU) 6-1, 6-0
No. 2 – Lexi Bolesky (CCU) def. Patricia Coimbra (WU) 7-6, 6-3
No. 3 – Sara Abutovic (WU) def. Tina Petkova (CCU) 7-5, 6-3
No. 4 – Kim Webb (CCU) vs. Lisa Wilkinson (WU) 7-6, 3-6, 4-2 unfinished
No. 5 – Larisa Bekmetova (WU) def. Sofie Ahlberg (CCU) 6-3, 6-1
No. 6 – Maria Camberos (CCU) def. Paula Pereira (WU) 7-5, 6-5 unfinished

Winthrop head coach Cid Carvhalo
“We had another good day in doubles.  In singles, we were still playing well.  I am very proud of my players for winning another Big South Conference title for Winthrop.”