Skyhawk netters win OVC opener

Posted: Friday, March 9, 2012 12:01 pm

Junior Anna Winkelmann posted a comeback victory at No. 3 singles play to lift UT Martin tennis team to a crucial 4-3 win in its Ohio Valley Conference opener at Jacksonville State Monday afternoon.
With the win, the Skyhawks improve to 2-5 on the season but pick up a league victory that could loom large down the line as these two teams shared the regular season championship in 2011.
A native of Rhede, Germany, Winkelmann lost the first set to Rafaela Wenzel by a 6-3 margin. With the match victory on the line, she bounced back strong to claim a 6-4, 6-3 win in the final two sets.
UT Martin started the match off strong, earning the all-important doubles point. Johanie Van Zyl and Katie McCall began with an 8-3 win at No. 3, while Jodie Tiley and Ivon Simic clinched the doubles decision with an 8-2 victory at No. 2.
Jacksonville State drew first blood in singles, winning at No. 2. Alice Laing then helped the Skyhawks build momentum with a 6-1, 6-3 victory at No. 6.
After Anna Marie Her-bold gave UT Martin its second singles win (6-3, 6-1 at No. 5), the Gamecocks picked up a pair of three-set victories at No. 4 and No. 1 to even the match at 3-all.
That set up Winkelmann’s heroics, as her three-set win propelled the Skyhawks to the win.
As part of its Spring Break trip, UT Martin will now travel to St. Leo, Fla., to take on the St. Leo University Lions today at 3 p.m. Published in The WCP 3.8.12