CHARLESTON, S.C.. - The Charleston Southern women's tennis team opened its Big South schedule with a come-from-behind 4-3 victory over visiting Gardner-Webb Saturday, Feb. 26 at Buccaneer Tennis Center.

CSU improves its record to 2-3 with the win, including a 1-0 Big South mark. Gardner-Webb falls to 5-2 on the season, having gone 1-2 so far in conference matches. Saturday was CSU's second consecutive 4-3 victory, as the team defeated Troy by the same score Feb. 13.

Gardner-Webb claimed the double point and led 2-1 after the first two singles matches. CSU took a 3-2 edge after five matches, and the Runnin' Bulldogs tied the match with a win at No. 2 singles. CSU's Olga Makhova posted a three-set victory to secure the 4-3 triumph for the Buccaneers.

Makhova and Marija Dzakovic teamed up for an 8-3 win at No. 1 doubles over Laura Kriett and Erica White. The pair of Ioana Oprea and Jenny Lunde defeated Brooke Pletcher and Alexandra Walters, 8-5. G-W earned the point for doubles with an 8-3 victory at No. 3 doubles.

Pletcher posted a 6-1, 6-0 victory at No. 3 singles in the first completed match. Gardner-Webb's Hutterli beat Heather Isbell in the No. 5 match, 6-3, 6-4. The Buccaneers then won the next two singles contests.

Susita Das earned a straight-sets win over Rita Gouveia in Das' second singles match of the season at No. 6. CSU
freshman Alia Nour won a 6-0, 0-6, 6-2 decision over Lunde for a 3-2 lead. Oprea tied the match for G-W with a No. 2 win in three sets over Dzakovic.

Makhova bounced back from a first-set defeat to win the final two sets and the match, downing Erica White 6-7, 6-2, 6-3.

The Buccaneers next play at Wofford Saturday, March 5 at 10 a.m.

Charleston Southern (2-3, 1-0 Big South) def. Gardner-Webb (5-2, 1-2 Big South), 4-3
Charleston, S.C. - Feb. 26, 2011

Singles Competition
1. Olga Makhova (CSU) d. Erica White (G-W) 6-7 (1-7), 6-2, 6-3
2. Ioana Oprea (G-W) d. Marija Dzakovic (CSU) 7-6 (7-4), 2-6, 6-2
3. Brooke Pletcher (CSU) d. Laura Kriett (G-W) 6-1, 6-0
4. Alia Nour (CSU) d. Jenny Lunde (G-W) 6-0, 0-6, 6-2
5. Ronia Hutterli (G-W) d. Heather Isbell (CSU) 6-3, 6-4
6. Susita Das (CSU) d. Rita Gouveia (G-W) 6-4, 6-4

Doubles Competition
1. Olga Makhova/Marija Dzakovic (CSU) d. Laura Kriett/Erica White (G-W) 8-3
2. Ioana Oprea/Jenny Lunde (G-W) d. Alexandra Walters/Brooke Pletcher (CSU) 8-5
3. Rita Gouveia/Ronia Hutterli (G-W) d. Heather Isbell/Susita Das (CSU) 8-3
Order of finish: Singles (3,5,6,4,2,1)