Women's Tennis | 4/18/2010 4:09:48 PM

BURLINGTON, N.C. - The Methodist women's tennis team won their third USA South Athletic Conference Tournament championship in the five years since the conference has named a tournament winner.

The Monarchs took a 2-1 lead after tight doubles competition. Dana Powell and Rachel Purser won the number two match 8-2. Kaitlin Flaherty and Katherine Meindl won 8-4 at number one while Meredith took the number three match 8-6 over Heather Brayton and Jennifer Hamel.

Meindl won the number two singles match 6-0, 6-2 to give Methodist the 3-1 lead while Powell lost 6-0, 6-4 at number five. Flaherty won 6-0, 6-1 at number one and Hamel lost the number six match 6-3, 6-1. The Monarchs needed one more match and Brayton finished with a 6-3, 6-3 win at number four just before Purser won 6-3, 6-1 at number three to give Methodist the 6-3 win.

With the win, the Monarchs won their 22nd match this season, the most in men's or women's tennis history at Methodist. The Monarchs also receive an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament with complete team selections announced May 10.

Methodist's Katherine Meindl, Rachel Purser and Heather Brayton received All-Tournament honors while Kaitlin Flaherty was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player.

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