NEWBERRY, S.C. - Newberry sophomore Susana Aguirre won her third straight singles match of the 2011-12 season in convincing fashion, but it was not enough as the Wolves fell short 5-4 in a loss to the visiting UNC Pembroke Braves.

Doubles proved important as the visiting UNC Pembroke Braves (1-0) squeaked out a victory at No. 2 doubles after picking up a comfortable victory at No. 3. Newberry (1-2) won the second match to be completed on the afternoon as Aguirre (Guayaquil, Ecuador) and sophomore Ariel Strong (Cassatt, S.C.) defeated Mia Winterbottom and Hannah Herlocker 8-1.

At No. 2 doubles the Wolves pairing of sophomores Mariana Ziehe (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) and Romina Adum (Guayaquil, Ecuador) battled with the Braves twosome of Shelby Bickel and Leigh-Anne McAfee, but were unable to secure the victory in the closing moments of the match.

The Wolves showed well in singles splitting the competition with the Braves.

It was Aguirre at No. 2 who won her match most comfortably as she took down McAfee in straight sets 6-4, 6-1. Newberry earned a second victory at No. 3 singles where Adum edged Herlocker in the first set 7-6, before dropping the UNC Pembroke singles player 6-0 in the second set.

The Wolves final team point came at No. 5 singles where freshman Emily Helsel took the first set from Madeline DiNunzio 6-3 before falling in the second set 3-6. With the match between the Wolves and Braves decided, the two competed in a tie-break format to determine the victor at No. 5 singles. In the end it was Helsel who earned the victory with a 10-5 win in the tie-break format over DiNunzio.

Newberry is scheduled to head to Belmont, N.C. for a 2 p.m. meeting against Belmont Abbey on Sunday.

UNC Pembroke 5 - Newberry 4
Feb. 3, 2012
Newberry, S.C.
Cannon Tennis Courts

Singles
No. 1: Mia Winterbottom (UNCP) def. Ariel Strong (NC) 6-2, 6-2
No. 2: Susana Aguirre (NC) def. Leigh-Anne McAfee (UNCP) 6-4, 6-1
No. 3: Romina Adum (NC) def. Hannah Herlocker (UNCP) 7-6, 6-1
No. 4: Shelby Bickel (UNCP) def. Marina Ziehe (NC) 6-0, 6-2
No. 5: Emily Helsel (NC) def. Madeline DiNunzio (UNCP) 6-3, 3-6, (10-5)
No. 6: Monica Espitia (UNCP) def. Shannon McManus (NC) 6-2, 6-3

Doubles
No. 1: Aguirre/Strong (NC) def. Winterbottom/Herlocker (UNCP) 8-1
No. 2: McAfee/Herlocker (UNCP) def. Ziehe/Adum (NC) 8-6
No. 3: DiNunzio/Espitia (UNCP) def. Amanda Simmons/McManus (NC) 8-2