Box Score BELMONT, N.C.  Methodist University women's tennis opened up its spring portion of the 2023-24 season on Monday afternoon, February 5, with a non-conference match at Belmont Abbey College. Ultimately, the Monarchs fell to the Crusaders by a score of 6-1.

JUST THE FACTS
Final score: Belmont Abbey def. Methodist 6-1
Records: Methodist 0-1, Belmont Abbey 4-2
Location: Reidy Tennis Center; Belmont, North Carolina

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The rookie pair of Emma Hulicki and Caitlin Tihanovich claimed the lone doubles victory for Methodist on the number two court. They defeated their counterparts, Anna Li & Taylor Reid, 6-3.
• In singles, senior Monarch Toni Laney faced Belmont Abbey's Paola Socarras at the No. 1 position. Laney took the first set (6-3) before Socarras came back to take the second (6-2) but in the tie breaker set Laney dominated, 10-3, to secure Methodist one point in the team score.
• Junior Veva Willocks of the Monarchs came close to winning her respective flight, No. 5 singles. She played Reid of the Crusaders and the two each won a set 6-4, with Reid claiming the first followed by Willocks in the second. A tight tie breaker set saw Reid narrowly beating Willocks 10-8.
• Hulicki was also penciled into the second spot of singles and squared off with Maria Lopez of Belmont Abbey. Lopez won the bout 6-4, 6-1 against Hulicki. Daniella Galeano from the Crusaders got the better of Tihanovich (6-1, 6-3) to pick up a win in No. 3 singles.
• Annabelle Subirats of Methodist fell to Kylie Elliott (6-3, 6-1) on the fourth court while Belmont Abbey's Isabella Ezeta defeated Katie Sechrist of the Monarchs (6-2, 6-2) in the sixth spot.

UP NEXT
Methodist makes its home debut on February 14 as the Monarchs host Barton College. The match is scheduled to begin at 2 PM.