Athletic News

04/19/2009 -

Trojans Fall To Erskine 5-2 In Conference Championship

Mount Olive took an early lead in doubles play, but four-time defending champion Erskine rallied in singles to defeat the top-seeded Trojans 5-2 in the championship match of the 2009 Conference Carolinas Women’s Tennis Tennis Tournament Sunday at Sumter, N.C. Carol Aro and Jessica Souza represented Mount Olive on the All-Tournament Team.

Mount Olive (12-10) led 2-1 after doubles play, thanks to a dramatic comeback by Kristen Jones and Sophia Medeiros at No. 2 doubles. Jones and Medeiros trailed 7-4, but rallied to win five straight games for a 9-7 win. Aro and Souza combined for an 8-3 win at No. 1 doubles for the Trojans.

But Erskine came back with four singles wins to capture its fifth consecutive conference champion.

Mount Olive finished in a three-way tie with Erskine and Lees-McRae for first place in the regular season Conference Carolinas standings as the Trojans captured their first-ever regular season conference title. Mount Olive earned the No. 1 seed by virture of a conference tie-breaker.

The Trojans finished 8-1 in conference play, winning their last seven regular season conference matches, as well as their first two matches in the conference tournament.

Mount Olive now will wait to find out if it qualifies for an at-large bid to the NCAA Division II Southeast Regional. Regionals take place May 7-9.

Singles:
1. Tessa Rheault (EC) def. Jessica Souza (MOC) 6-2, 6-2
2. Britton Bignon (EC) def. Carol Aro (MOC) 6-4, 7-5
3. Mary Claire Rollins (EC) def. Camila Kurebayashi (MOC) 6-2, 6-1
4. Sofia Medeiros (MOC) def. Jourdan Smith (EC)
5. Kacie Knox (EC) def. Pietra Viana (MOC) 6-2, 6-4
6. Nikki Miller (EC) def. Kristen Jones (MOC)

Doubles:
1. Aro/Souza (MOC) def. Bignon/Knox (EC) 8-3
2. Medeiros/Jones (MOC) def. Rheault/Rollins (EC) 9-7
3. Smith/Miller (EC) def. Kurebayashi/Viana (MOC) 8-3
 

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