FAYETTEVILLE, N.C.  The Methodist women's tennis team played its first match of the 2025 spring season on Friday, falling to non–conference opponent Piedmont University by a score of 5–2.

JUST THE FACTS
Final score: Piedmont def. Methodist 5-2
Records: Methodist 0-1, Piedmont 4-0
Location: Gene Clayton Tennis Center; Fayetteville, North Carolina

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Monarchs were victorious in two out of three doubles matches, with Emma Hulicki and Caitlin Tihanovich winning the top match (6–1) while Annabelle Subirats and Katie Sechrist claimed a win over Piedmont's No. 2 doubles duo (6–2). This gave Methodist the first team point of the match and the only point rewarded during the doubles round.
• In singles play, Tihanovich earned the lone Methodist victory from the third court, besting opponent Lauryn Leslie with set wins of 6–1 and 6–4.
• In the No. 5 singles match, Veva Willocks put up a great fight. After falling behind with a first–set loss (6–2), she rebounded in the second set with a 6–3 win. She ultimately fell in the third set, losing 6–2 to Piedmont's Jordan Ballard.
• Subirats played two close sets in the No. 2 singles match but was unable to win either, losing both by a score of 6–4. Hulicki suffered defeat in the top singles match (6–2, 6–2) while Sechrist lost on the fourth court (6–2, 6–2) and Madelyn Parker was taken down in the sixth singles matchup (6–1, 6–0).

UP NEXT
The Monarchs return to action on Thursday, Feb. 21, when they travel to Barton College for a 2 p.m. match.