ROCK ISLAND, Ill. – Senior Vicki Andonova (Downers Grove South HS, Westmont, Ill.) may have been in unfamiliar territory but the moment didn't seem to faze her. Andonova's victory at number five singles broke a 4-4 tie and gave Augustana the clinching point in the Vikings hard-fought 5-4 win over Carthage on Wednesday, September 14 at the Lower Campus Courts in Rock Island, Illinois.
 
Andonova, who normally holds down the number six singles position for head coach Jon Miedema's team, was forced to move up to number five for the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin battle with the Lady Reds. She shook off a first set loss to Eliza Barter of Carthage and bounced back to claim a 2-6; 7-6; 6-3 win that kept Augustana undefeated at 5-0 overall and 4-0 in league play.
 
Andonova was moved up a spot in the lineup because junior Mollie Magee (Olathe East HS, Overland Park, Kan.) was forced to miss the match due to illness. Magee has been playing number five singles and also number one doubles for the Vikings. Not only was Andonova bumped up one spot in singles but she was also called upon to play in doubles, a task she hasn't performed much in the last two years.
 
With a doubles lineup that was juggled quite a bit because of Magee's absence, Augustana came away with a 2-1 lead after the doubles competition.
 
Senior Dana Goggin (Buffalo Grove HS, Arlington Heights, Ill.) and sophomore Caitlyn Schaffer (Kenwood Academy, Chicago, Ill.) defeated Max Mella and Angeline Emmanouil 8-6 at number one doubles. The Vikings number two doubles team of senior Lauren Goggin (Buffalo Grove HS, Arlington Heights, Ill.) and freshman Zena Badawi (Hinsdale Central HS, Burr Ridge, Ill.) held off Casey Frommer and Kristen Kalinka to score a 9-7 win. That gave Augustana an early 2-0 lead.
 
Andonova and sophomore Madeline Lombardi (Edwardsville HS, Glen Carbon, Ill.) dropped a 9-8 decision at number three doubles to Natalie Favia and Eliza Barter at number three doubles. The loss at number three was a tough one because Andonova and Lombardi broke out to a 7-3 lead but were unable to close things out.
 
Carthage picked up victories at numbers three and six singles to take a 3-2 lead. Schaffer dropped a 6-4; 6-1 decision to Emmanouil at number three and Lombardi fell 6-0; 6-4 to Favia at number six.
 
Badawi's win at number four by a score of 6-3; 6-1 over Kalinka evened the match at 3-3 but Carthage reclaimed the win when Frommer beat Lauren Goggin 6-1; 2-6; 6-3 at number one.
 
Trailing 4-3 with two spots left on the court the Vikings needed wins in both to claim the victory and that is exactly what they got. Dana Goggin polished off Mella 6-0; 6-4 to tie things at 4-4.
 
Andonova dropped the first set 2-6 but bounced back and won 7-6; 6-3 to seal the victory.
 
Augustana's next match will be a CCIW battle against North Park in Chicago on Wednesday, September 21.