Women's Tennis Finishes Second in SLIAC Tournament

Published: April 13, 2021

ST. LOUIS, Mo. -- The Greenville College women's tennis team ended their 2014 campaign with a second place showing in the SLIAC tournament. Entering the tournament as the second seed with a conference mark of 4-1, the Lady Panthers held their position, gaining a first round bye, a 5-4 semifinal win over Westminster, and a 9-0 championship loss to Principia.

After defeating Westminster 5-4 in the regular season, Greenville was able to repeat their result, topping the Blue Jays in two of three doubles matches and splitting the six flights of singles.

Chelsie Evans and Lezlie Blaser picked up a 8-4 win at No. 2 doubles over Amy Osborn and Jessica Klutts. In No. 3 doubles, Anna Brannon and Abby Maurer defeated Ellen Woolsey and Mary Nestor 8-3. Kristen Lynch and Lexi Baysinger took a 8-3 loss to Sarah Heeter and Mariah Hernandez in No. 1 doubles.

In singles, victories at No. 2, No. 5, and No. 6 singles gave Greenville the required five wins to advance in the tournament.

In No. 2 singles, Baysinger dropped the first set 7-6 to Osborn before rattling off two straight 6-2 set wins.

No. 5 Brannon topped Woolsey 7-6 in set one, dropped the second set 6-4, and finished with a 6-1 win in the third set.

No. 6 Emily Rauch took a 6-3, 7-6 straight sets victory over Laura Kelly.

No. 1 Lynch and No. 3 Evans were defeated in straight sets, and No. 4 Blaser pushed Hernandez to three sets before succombing.

The championship match of the tournament was all Principia as the Principia Panthers earned their 18th tournament championship in 24 years with a 9-0 win.

The No. 1 doubles team of Lynch and Baysinger was able to take three games from Carlie Sanderude and Hanne Anderson but ultimately fell 8-3 to Principia's top duo. The No. 2 team of Evans and Blaser and No. 3 team of Rauch and Brannon lost 8-1 in their matches.

In singles, Brannon took five games in the first set before losing 7-5, 6-0 to Justine Roy.

The remaining Greenville singles participants could not take more than two games in a set as Principia swept the remaining flights of singles in straight sets.

Following the tournament, the SLIAC announced its all-conference team. Representing Greenville were No. 5 Brannon and No. 6 Rauch as choices in honorable mention singles. The duo of Baysinger and Brannon was honorable mention in No. 2 doubles. Brannon earned Greenville's spot on the all-sportsmanship team.

Head coach Pam Craig was honored as coach of the year for the fourth time in her career. She received the award previously in 1997, 2001, and 2006. Craig has served as G.C.'s head women's tennis coach for 20 consecutive seasons, beginning in 1994. She was also head women's tennis coach in 1977, 1979, and 1983.

Greenville College was given the team sportsmanship trophy for the third consecutive year and fourth time in the award's nine years of existance.

The Lady Panthers concluded their 2014 campaign with a record of 7-13 (4-1 SLIAC).