WILMINGTON, North Carolina – Visiting Charlotte fought off a match point to slip past UNCW, 4-3, in the 10^th meeting between the two state schools in women's tennis on Thursday at the UNCW courts.

The 49ers moved to 6-10 with the narrow victory, while the Seahawks, kicking off a four-game home stand to close out the spring season, slipped to 1-9. It was the first meeting of the two schools in women's tennis since 2011.
Playing in sunny, breezy conditions, the two teams went head-to-head in a match that lasted 3:45 and wasn't decided until the final pairing.

With the score knotted at 3-all, Charlotte's Pierina Imparato trailed, 6-5, in a second-set tie-breaker at No. 4 singles before rallying for a 3-6, 7-6 (6), 6-1, decision that lifted the 49ers to the win.

The Seahawks claimed the doubles point with victories at the No. 2 and No. 3 slots. The No. 2 tandem of Celeste Matute and Sarah Horn clinched the early point with a 7-5 triumph against Imparato and Zoe Radojicic.

Senior Xandra Fougner and freshman Lea Dubois-Rebiere picked up UNCW's two points in singles. Fougner came from behind to defeat Charlotte's Rocio Safont, 5-7, 6-4, 6-1, at No. 3 singles, while Dubois-Rebiere outlasted Radojicic, 6-4, 0-6, 7-6 (5) at the No. 5 position.

The Seahawks continue their home stand on Saturday with a noon match against Colonial Athletic Association foe James Madison. UNCW then wraps up the regular season vs. Charleston (Saturday, April 14) and Towson (Sunday, April 15) at the UNCW Courts.

Charlotte 4, UNCW 3
March 29, 2018 | UNCW Tennis Courts | Wilmington, N.C.

Singles
1. Tai Martin (CHA) def. Celeste Matute (UNCW) 6-2, 6-3
2. Emma Scott (CHA) def. Maddy Muller-Hughes (UNCW) 6-4, 6-2
3. Xandra Fougner (UNCW) def. Rocio Safont (CHA) 5-7, 6-4, 6-1
4. Pierina Imparato (CHA) def. Sabrina Barisano (UNCW) 3-6, 7-6 (8-6), 6-1
5. Lea Dubois-Rebiere (UNCW) def. Zoe Radojicic (CHA) 6-4, 0-6, 7-6 (7-5)
6. Megan Smith (CHA) def. Sarah Horn (UNCW) 6-1, 6-4

Doubles
1. Sabrina Barisano/Maddy Muller-Hughes (UNCW) def. Alexandra Lee/Tai Martin (CHA) 6-4
2. Sarah Horn/Celeste Matute (UNCW) def. Pierina Imparato/Zoe Radojicic (CHA) 7-5
3. Rocio Safont/Immie Cowper (CHA) def. Rachel Marthinsen/Rishika Ravindran (UNCW) 6-3

Order of finish: Doubles (3,1,2); Singles (6,2,1,3,5,4)