FLORENCE, S.C. (April 22) – After battling rainy conditions and several delays, the No. 3 seeded University of Mount Olive women's tennis team secured a 4-1 victory over No. 2 Lees-McRae in the semifinals of the Conference Carolinas Championship to advance to the finals for a third-straight season.
With the win, the Trojans clinch their third-straight victory to improve to 13-11 overall and avenge a loss to Lees-McRae during the regular season. UMO will look to defend its league crown tomorrow, Sunday, April 23, versus the regular-season champions Erskine, starting at 11 a.m. Meanwhile, the Bobcats close the year with a 9-9 record after entering the tournament as the No. 2 seed.
Mount Olive captured the doubles point after producing wins in the No. 1 and No. 2 positions during the session on Saturday. Senior
Liza Voloshyna and junior
Nele Weber registered their third-straight win in a 6-3 win over Anita Ivanova and Mei Hiramatsu in the first position and improved to 17-4 this year as a duo. In the second slot, senior
Ingrid Montserrat and freshman
Oriana Izarra delivered a 6-2 victory to secure their 12th consecutive win in double play against Rhidaim Yang and Pati Vedia Sanchez. The No. 3 doubles were left unfinished with the match tied at 5-5.
In singles play, the Trojans claimed wins in three of the four completed matches to return to the Conference Carolinas Championship Final. The Bobcats secured the first singles win in the sixth slot after junior
Jessica Aylward suffered a 6-0, 6-2 loss to Lina Ngassi Saquot. Voloshyna responded by making quick work of Ivanova after recording a 6-1, 6-2 win at No. 2 singles. Freshman
Laura Servien followed with a 6-3, 2-1 victory after Begum Gumussoy was forced to retire. In the first position, Montserrat posted her third-straight victory with a 6-4, 6-2 decision versus Hiramatsu to seal the match win.
The Trojans will look to repeat as conference champions tomorrow, Sunday, April 23, versus No. 1 seeded Erskine in the finals at the Dr. Eddie Floyd Florence Tennis Center in South Carolina, beginning at 11 a.m.