Women's Tennis | 4/15/2012 3:01:00 PM

BURLINGTON, N.C. - The Methodist women's tennis team has adopted a team motto of sorts over the last few years, "love the battle." Sunday's USA South Tournament Championship was definitely a battle as the Monarchs took the early lead before narrowly edging Meredith College 5-4.

Rachel Purser and Dana Powell started things off for Methodist with a dominating 8-2 win at number two doubles. Meredith tied the match with an 8-4 win at number three doubles over Kelli Shelton and Stacey Brooks, but Methodist's Katherine Meindl and Laura Baker finished with the 8-4 win at number one doubles to give Methodist the advantage.

Purser and Baker finished quickly at number two and three singles respectively. Purser won 6-2, 6-1 and Baker earned the 6-0, 6-1 victory for Methodist to lead 4-1. The Angels battled back to win the next three matches to tie it up at four. Lauryn Justice lost 6-1, 6-0 at number six and Kelli Shelton lost 6-1, 6-4 at number five. Meindl lost 6-4, 6-2 at number one. Powell earned the 6-4 win in the first set and both players prepared to battle out a long second set. The set was tied at four and five before Meredith's Ashley Pearsall took the 6-5 lead. Powell came back and tied it at six to force the tiebreaker. The tiebreaker was tied at three, but Pearsall won two straight points to lead 5-3. Powell came through with four straight points to earn the win 6-4, 7-6 (7-5) and clinch the team victory. With the win, Powell ties former Methodist player Kaitlin Flaherty for the most singles wins in program history at 74.

Laura Baker was named tournament MVP while Rachel Purser and Dana Powell were All-Tournament selections.


The Monarchs receive an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament with their third straight USA South Tournament title and fifth in six years.

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