LYNCHBURG, Va. – The Presbyterian College women's tennis team attempted to play spoiler in the opening round of the Big South Championship on Friday but ultimately fell to seventh seeded Gardner-Webb, 4-3, in Lynchburg, Va.
The Bulldogs pulled out the doubles point with wins on courts two and three. GWU's Rokia Sacko and Mary Walker Mixon claimed the match on court two, 6-3, before PC answered with 6-3 victory on court one by Caroline Ferrari and Demi Henschel. Gardner-Webb clinched the point with a 6-4 win at No. 3 to take the 1-0 lead.
In singles, PC took the first three matches to take a 3-1 overall lead. Tracy Johnson opened it up with a 6-2, 6-3 win at No. 2 to earn her team-leading 16th singles win of the season. Nicole Croxton followed with a win in straight sets on court six, 6-1, 6-2. Brittany Nuttall then claimed a win on court four, 6-2, 7-5, to push the PC lead just shy of clinching.
Gardner-Webb took each of the three matches to take it at 4-3 and advance to the quarterfinals. Catherine White won 6-0, 7-5 at No. 5 and Sacko edged Celine Schepers in three sets at No. 1, 6-3, 0-6, 6-3. In the final match of the day, Sandra Bolstad came from behind to top Demi Henschel in three sets, 6-7, 6-1, 6-1, to give GWU the match.
PC finishes its 2016 season with 11 victories, including six on the road. The Blue Hose recorded its best start ever, opening the season with five straight victories, all on the road.
Gardner-Webb 4, Presbyterian 3
Singles
1. SACKO, Rokia (GWU) def. Celine Schepers (PC) 6-3, 0-6, 6-3
2. Tracy Johnson (PC) def. MAGNUSSON, Stina (GWU) 6-2, 6-3
3. BOLSTAD, Sandra (GWU) def. Demi Henschel (PC) 6-7 (7-9), 6-1, 6-1
4. Brittany Nuttall (PC) def. RIECKMANN, Sarah (GWU) 6-2, 7-5
5. WHITE, Catherine (GWU) def. Claire M Andrews (PC) 6-0, 7-5
6. Nicole Croxton (PC) def. FERMOSEL, Laura (GWU) 6-1, 6-2
Doubles
1. Caroline Ferrari/Demi Henschel (PC) def. MAGNUSSON, Stina/BOLSTAD, Sandra (GWU) 6-3
2. SACKO, Rokia/MIXON, Mary Walker (GWU) def. Tracy Johnson/Claire M Andrews (PC) 6-2
3. WHITE, Catherine/RIECKMANN, Sarah (GWU) def. Nicole Croxton/Celine Schepers (PC) 6-4
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1,3); Singles (2,6,4,5,1,3)
