ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. - Methodist University built an early lead and closed out a 4-1 victory over Pfeiffer on Thursday in the USA South Tournament, ending the Falcons' run at the Slick Family Foundation Tennis Center in Rocky Mount, North Carolina.
The Monarchs secured the opening doubles point by winning at Nos. 1 and 2 doubles. Shea Bieniek and Emma Hulicki defeated
Haley Ingenito and
Fanny Apostolou 6–3 at No. 1, while Caitlin Tihanovich and Helen Hofmann earned a 6–2 win over
Sydney Cohen and
Gracie Spangler at No. 2. The No. 3 doubles match was left unfinished.
Methodist extended the margin in singles play with straight-set wins at three positions. Tihanovich topped Cohen 7–6, 6–2 at No. 3 singles, Shea Bieniek defeated
Riley Isley 6–4, 6–3 at No. 4, and Addison Haden cruised past
Claire Germain 6–1, 6–1 at No. 6 to clinch the match.
Pfeiffer's lone point came at No. 5 singles, where
Gracie Spangler earned a hard-fought 7–6, 6–2 win over Katie Sechrist.
Two singles matches were still in progress when the clinching point was decided. At No. 1, Ingenito and Hulicki split sets, while Apostolou and Hofmann were also tied after two sets at No. 2.
The loss brings Pfeiffer's season to an end, with Pfeiffer finishing with a 13-5 overall record.
