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WTNvVaWes 210314 Higgins
9
Winner UNC Wilmington UNCW (5-6)
0
Methodist University MUWTN (4-8)
Winner
UNC Wilmington UNCW
(5-6)
9
Final
0
Methodist University MUWTN
(4-8)
4
Methodist MUWTN (4-9)
5
Winner Sweet Briar SBC (7-2)
Methodist MUWTN
(4-9)
4
Final
5
Sweet Briar SBC
(7-2)
Winner

Match Recap: Women's Tennis |

Monarchs Downed by Seahawks, Vixens

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C.  Methodist's women's tennis team operated under a split squad concept Saturday, but was unable to come with a victory at either site as visiting UNC Wilmington took a 9-0 decision at the Monarchs' Clayton Tennis Center, while soon after host Sweet Briar College squeaked out a 5-4 victory on its home courts at the Denis Van Der Meer Tennis Center.

The match against UNCW was a big step up for the Division III Monarchs, who were squaring off against a D-I Seahawks squad. The match against the Vixens was a straight up D-III vs. D-III contest.

JUST THE FACTS
Final scores: UNC Wilmington def. Methodist, 9-0; Sweet Briar def. Methodist, 5-4
Records: Methodist 4-9, UNC Wilmington 5-6, Sweet Briar 7-2
Locations: Clayton Tennis Center, Fayetteville, N.C.; Denis Van Der Meer Tennis Center, Sweet Briar, Va.

HOW IT HAPPENED
  • As expected, Methodist faced much stiffer competition than normal in the home match against UNCW. Still, though, Megan Kidd at No. 1 singles made her Seahawk opponent, Brinley Bell, work hard for the victory as Kidd suffered only a 6-1, 6-4 defeat.
  • The match at Sweet Briar was a back and forth affair, beginning with the Monarchs taking two points in doubles. Olivia Ward and Natalie Collins shut out their Vixen opponents at 3-doubles, 8-0 for the first point of the match, and after Sweet Briar evened things up with a win at No. 1, Jill Lawrence and Kamdyn Balko provided the Monarchs with the advantage after their 8-4 win at No. 2.
  • Sweet Briar rallied in singles play after Collins pushed the Monarch lead to 3-1 following her 6-0, 6-0 win at No. 5. The Vixens won at Nos. 1, 2 and 3 to vault in front, leaving the players at Nos. 4 and 6 on the courts to settle things.
  • Balko dropped a heartbreaker of a match at No. 4, losing the opening set, 7-6 (2), by a tiebreaker, then falling a service break short, 6-4, in the second set.
  • That became the clinching fifth point for Sweet Briar, but Hannah Higgins had something to say about the final score, rallying from a first-set loss to the Vixens' Ruth Lechner with 6-3, 6-4 wins in the second and third sets to claim one final point for her Monarchs teammates.
UP NEXT
Methodist will edge back into USA South Athletic Conference competition in its next match, at Averett University on Sunday, March 28, before stepping back into non-conference action on March 32 when split squads will travel to D-I Elon University and D-III Virginia Wesleyan University.
    
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