LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. --- The Tusculum College women's tennis team wrapped up its fall schedule by competing this weekend at the Grizzly Open, hosted by Georgia Gwinnett College.
Freshman Annie McCullough advanced to the A Draw singles finals before being eliminated by a former Division I standout, while freshman Brittani Brooks was a finalist in the B Draw consolation bracket for the Pioneers.
McCullough, who won the ITA Southeast Region B Draw championship earlier this fall, defeated Margarida Abreu of host Georgia Gwinnett 12-10 in a third-set tiebreaker after splitting the first two sets 7-6 (7-5) and 1-6. McCullough then beat Carlye Goldman of Rollins 6-1, 6-3 in the quarterfinals and Fabiana Vitanza of Rollins 7-5, 6-1 in the semifinals.
In the finals, McCullough faced former Georgia State standout Kristin Rehse, who was competing as an unattached player. Rehse captured the victory in straight sets over McCullough.
Brooks dropped her opening match in the round of 32 in the B Draw, but bounced back to defeat Alyvia Kluska of Rollins (8-3), Katharina Kiderlen of Emmanuel (8-1) and Chloe O'Connor of Emmanuel (8-2) to move into the finals. Brooks faced Gabrielle Chanthapheng of West Georgia in the finals but was defeated by a score of 9-7.
In other A Draw singles competition for the Pioneers, Katarina Majorova beat Pearllan Mary Cipriano of Emmanuel 7-5, 6-0 in the round of 32 and downed Savanna Fuller of Rollins 6-1, 6-1 in the round of 16 before being eliminated by Rehse 6-4, 6-2 in the quarterfinals.
Franziska Funke also advanced to the quarterfinals by defeating Albane Queinnec of Reinhardt 6-1, 6-3 in the first round and Debora Scurf of Georgia Gwinnett 7-5, 6-0 in the round of 16 before losing to Daniela Ramirez in straight sets in the quarterfinals.
Also in A flight, Jule Brass dropped her opening match in the round of 32 but came back to beat Jordan England of West Georgia 8-2 in the first round of consolations. Brass was then eliminated in the third round by Gema Mendoza, who had knocked out Sarah Baker in the consolation first round after the Pioneer senior fell in straight sets in her opening match.
In other B Draw singles matches, Julia Lopez advanced to the quarterfinals with wins over Rebecca Havens of Bluefield (6-1, 6-0) and Jamie Lunceford of Reinhardt in a 10-4 tiebreaker after splitting the first two sets 6-3 and 6-7 (7-3). In the quarterfinals, Lopez was defeated by Georgia State freshman Damira Muminovic in straight sets.
Lyndsey Pulliam won her opening match in the round of 32 by a 6-0, 6-1 score over Valese Wilkerson of Brewton-Parker, but lost in straight sets to Rebecca Scurt of Georgia Gwinnett in th round of 16. Chrystal Pierce also competed in the B Draw, but lost in the round of 64 and in the third round of consolations.
In doubles, the lone Pioneer team to advance out of the first round was the pairing of Baker and McCullough, who beat the Brewton-Parker team of Grayson Tanner and Wilkerson 8-0 in the first round and downed Alex Borg and Zoe Monge of Rollins 8-2 in the round of 16. In the quarterfinals, the pair battled Abreu and Scurt of Georgia Gwinnett but lost 9-8 (7-2 tiebreaker).
Tusculum will return to competition on Saturday, Feb. 11 when the Pioneers kick off their spring schedule at Georgia Gwinnett.
