LAGRANGE, Ga. Methodist University's run through the 2019 USA South Athletic Conference women's tennis tournament was halted Saturday in the semifinal round where No. 1 East Division seed Piedmont College held off the No. 2 East seed Monarchs' challenge, 5-3.
Ashton Walker and
Abby Caddick prevented a Piedmont doubles sweep with an 8-4 win at No. 2, but the Lions captured three of the next five points during singles action to win and advance into Sunday's championship match.
THE ESSENTIALS
The Event: 2019 USA South Women's Tennis Championship
Final score: Piedmont def. Methodist, 5-3
Records: Methodist 15-10, Piedmont 19-5
Location: McCluskey Tennis Center; LaGrange, Ga.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Piedmont took solid victories at Nos. 1 and 3 doubles before Walker and Caddick began a Methodist rally.
- Caddick added to the rally with a straight-set 6-1, 6-3 victory at 5-singles over Maggie Moody, but Piedmont answered with a win at No. 4 to move back ahead, 3-2, in the team match score.
- The Lions inched closer with a win at No. 1, but while Jessica Tucker was finishing up a 6-1, 6-4 win for the Monarchs at 6-singles, Morgan Buchholz was claiming a straight-set win at No. 2 for Piedmont to clinch the match.
- Taylor Jackson was up a set, 6-1, at No. 3 before the match was halted.
FINAL NOTES
- The Monarchs finished the season ranked 20th in the ITA Atlantic South Region, while Piedmont takes its No. 19 Atlantic South ranking into Sunday's championship match.
- Saturday's match marked the final collegiate matches of Walker's and Allison Himes' Methodist careers.
