Averett Upsets Women's Tennis

BURLINGTON, N.C. - Sixth-seeded Averett University ended Shenandoah University's women's tennis season with a 5-4 win Friday afternoon in the USA South Conference Tournament quarterfinals at Burlington Tennis Center.

The Cougars (5-9), whom the Hornets (9-7) defeated 6-3 in Saturday's regular season finale, achieved the upset with strong performance in both singles and doubles.

After SU opened by winning 8-1 at No. 2 doubles, Averett countered with 8-5 and 8-4 wins at Nos. 1 and 3 to take a 2-1 lead into singles.

Brittany Bascope again knotted the match by winning 6-0, 6-0 at No. 3 for Shenandoah, but AU countered with a 6-3, 6-2 victory by Johanna Heikkinen at No. 1 over Colleen Hightower to give the Cougars a lead they would not relinquish.

Eliisa Alatalo then clinched the match with a 6-0, 6-3 win at No. 5 over Jessica Putman.

Aliisa Altau won the final match of the afternoon 4-6, 7-6 (7-4), 7-5 at No. 2 singles for the Hornets just after the match outcome was determined.