Women's Tennis | 5/11/2012 1:07:00 PM

ATLANTA, Ga. - The Methodist women's tennis team fell behind 2-1 after doubles, but battled back to win four straight singles to clinch the match 5-2 over Agnes Scott College in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

Dana Powell and Rachel Purser finished strong at number two doubles earning the first win of the day with an 8-5 victory at number two doubles. Katherine Meindl and Laura Baker dropped the first doubles match 8-3. Kelli Shelton and Stacey Brooks took the early lead at number three doubles, but Agnes Scott came back to win 9-8.

Shelton tied the match at two wins apiece with the 6-0, 6-2 win at number five singles. Emily Talley earned the 6-3, 6-0 win at number six and Powell won 6-1, 6-3 at number four. With the win, Powell surpassed former teammate Kaitlin Flaherty in the Methodist record book with 75 wins, the most in school history. She is also ranked second in all-time doubles wins with her 66th victory earlier in the day. Baker clinched the match for the Monarchs with a 6-1, 6-0 win at number three. Purser had won the first set 6-2 and was up 1-0 at number two when the match was called. Meindl lost 6-3 in the first set, but won the first game of the second.

Recently ranked 10th in the region, the Monarchs successfully knocked off 14th ranked Agnes Scott (15-4) for the second time in the NCAA Tournament after winning 5-3 in 2009. Methodist (22-3) advances to face nationally ranked host Emory University (15-5) on Saturday at 11 a.m. Live stats will be available HERE.

NCAA Tournament Website