The weather finally seemed to be cooperating as Longwood finally got to host a match at the Lancer courts after dropping two matches against Big South Conference opponents Winthrop and UNC-Asheville, falling to 5-6 overall, 1-3 in the Big South.
As they returned to the friendly confines of the Lancer courts, an A-10 opponent, the Saint Joseph’s University Hawks from Philadelphia, met them there. The Hawks came in off of an impressive win over Saint Francis, 6-1.
In the doubles matches Longwood was led by sophomore Anna Pelak and redshirt senior Nicole Parker who won in a tiebreaker as the set had been deadlocked at 7 (8-7). aided with the No. 3 doubles team of junior Maria Coronel and sophomore Mason Thomas winning (8-5). These wins clinched the doubles point for Longwood as they found the advantage, 1-0.
Singles didn’t change much as the Lancers took four out of the six singles matches. Coronel and Thomas responded with wins of their own. Pelak again was a catalyst for the winning tide that shifted the match. Pelak dropped the first set, 6-7, but responded with two sets of her own(6-2,6-3). Her match was against the undefeated No. 2 seed for St. Joe's, Claire Minnoe, and the clinching point the Lancers needed; as they now sit at 4-1 on the year while outdoors this season.
Head Coach Bruce Myers told Longwood’s official Athletics website after the win, "It was great to have Anna (Pelak) win the deciding match today. I am proud that she has really battled the last few matches, and beating a girl who was undefeated this year is just incredible."
The Lancers had little time to bask in a tough fought win as they traveled down to Charleston Southern University in Charleston, South Carolina. The Lancers ran into the rolling Buccaneers who came into the match on a six-match win streak.
Already slowed by a rain delay, the Lancers got a taste of what CSU has done to their past six opponents as senior Malin Allgurin was beaten by her CSU counterpart 6-0, 6-0. It was much of the same as CSU rolled through the singles lineup handing Thomas her fifth overall loss in singles this season.
The Lancers continued a busy week as they traveled up the coast to battle Coastal Carolina University in Conway, South Carolina. Longwood saw the same fate as they faced another red-hot team from the Palmetto State losing 7-0. The Chanticleers were on fire as this was their third win in conference, putting them atop the standings with CSU.
“Playing the top two teams in the conference this week really showed how far we have to go to be competitive in the Big South," Myers told Longwood’s official Athletics website.
This loss finishes off an up and down week for the Lancers as they look to rebound with a match against in state rival and fellow Big South member Radford University.
