HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. Methodist women's tennis earned a split of its two non-conference matches Thursday, rolling to a 9-0 defeat of Defiance (Ohio) College in the afternoon following a 6-3 loss to Wilkes (Pa.) University in the morning.
The loss to the Colonels ended a four-match Methodist win streak that had begun with the team's final match before heading to the coast for spring break.
THE ESSENTIALS
Final scores: Wilkes def. Methodist, 6-3; Methodist def. Defiance, 9-0
Records: Methodist 6-4, Wilkes 4-1, Defiance 5-16
Locations: Van Der Meer Tennis Center (Wilkes), Hilton Head Resort (Defiance); Hilton Head Island, S.C.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The afternoon match against Defiance's Yellow Jackets went quickly, beginning with a sweep of the doubles matches during which the Monarchs surrendered just a total of three games.
- Singles action was, relatively, just as fast for Methodist in its six-match sweep as each Monarch won in straight sets with Defiance winning a high of just five games in its closest defeat.
- Against Wilkes in the morning, it was the Monarchs who notched the first point when Taylor Jackson and Jill Lawrence roared to an 8-0 win at 2-doubles over Dagney Markle and Erin Volutza.
- Wilkes pushed back in front with wins at Nos. 1 and 3, then clinched the match victory with consecutive singles triumphs at Nos. 5, 2 then 6.
- Though the overall match had been decided, Ashton Walker and Jackson battled on their respective courts for victories; Walker won a throw-down battle at No. 1 against Jordan Vasarkovy, taking the first set, 6-3, tripping up in the second, 6-7(9), before coming through in the third-set super-tiebreak, 1-0 (10-8).
- Soon after, Jackson completed a 6-2, 6-2 win over Dasha Yakhnis at No. 3 for Methodist's final point.
UP NEXT
The Monarchs leave the Island and head up the coast to Newport News, Virginia, for a Friday, March 15 match at No. 23 Christopher Newport University, followed by a neutral-site match Saturday on the same courts against Centre (Ky.) College.
