Bowling Green, KY – The ninth-ranked Patriots women's tennis team had a hard fought effort but fell just short as the fell to the second-seed Lindsey Wilson 4-2 in the championship match of the MSC Tournament. Cumberlands moves to 20-2 on the season as they shift their attention to the NAIA National Tournament.
Lindsey Wilson took the early advantage in doubles with a 6-4 win at #3. The Patriots rallied as
Marina Nagai and
Fan Shiau defeated Reshma Challarapu and Darika Mladenovic 6-4 at #2 doubles. It was the fourth straight win for the Patriot duo. UC's top doubles tandem of
Meiri Okuwaki and
Mikaela Fros battle at #1 doubles trading points throughout the match. After the match was tied at 6-6 the two teams played until the Blue Raiders took the tie-breaker 14-12 and the 1-0 lead.
Fros evened the score with a 6-4, 6-0 win at #5 singles over Heyka Rodriguez. With the win, the graduate student improved to 18-1 on the season and extended her win streak to 16 straight matches.
Lindsey Wilson notched the next two points to take a 3-1 lead, before
Marina Nagai posted a straight set win at #3 singles. Nagai defeated Salome Sposetti 6-3, 6-0 to improve to 13-4 on the season and cut the deficit to 3-2.
After dropping the first set at #6 singles,
Johanna Beckmann rallied to win the second set 6-3. The Rhede, Germany native traded points early in the third set, however, fell 6-2 as the Blue Raiders secured the 4-2 final.
At #1 singles, Okuwaki rallied from down a set to win the second set 6-1. The match was tied at 1-1 in the third set when play was halted.
The Patriots are looking for their sixth straight NAIA National Tournament appearance, which is slated to begin on Tuesday, May 16.
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