Mobile, AL – The #16 Patriots women's tennis team started fast and battled out a trio of three-set matches to defeat #21 Indiana Tech in the opening round of the NAIA National Tournament Tuesday morning at the Mobile Tennis Center.  With the win the Patriots improve to 20-3 on the season and advance to the round of 16 on Wednesday.

UC's top double tandem of Tomomi Nagao and Mikaela Fros got things started with a 6-1 win over Martina Borges and Isidora Hrnjak.  After dropping #2 doubles, Cumberlands rallied as Laura Marie and Tessa Gray teamed up for the 6-2 win at #3 doubles to secure the doubles point for the Patriots.  The duo of Marie and Gray now improve to 20-1 on the season, including a 12-0 mark at #3 doubles.

Indiana Tech evened the score with a straight set win at #2 singles, however, Hana Shimeno tallied a 6-4, 6-1 win at #4 singles to put UC back in front 2-1.  Johanna Beckmann dropped her first set but rallied to take the next two 7-5, 6-1 for the three set win at #5 singles extending the lead to 3-1.

After the Warriors cut the score to 3-2, Marie improved to 21-2 on the season with a three-set win over Marianna Murcia 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 to clinch the match for Cumberlands.  Nagao capped off the match with a three-set win over Vero Jimenez 7-5, 4-6, 6-1 for the 5-2 final.  Nagao improves to 18-2 on the season with the win.

This marks the third time in the last four years that Cumberlands has advanced to the round of 16.

The Patriots will return to the court Wednesday, May 19, when they face second-seed Keiser in the round of 16.  That match is slated for 10 a.m. EST at the Mobile Tennis Center.

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