GREENSBORO, N.C. - The Guilford College women's tennis team faced a tough challenge at home on Sunday afternoon, falling 7-0 to Methodist University at the Dorothy Ragsdale McMichael '37 Centennial Class Courts.
The Monarchs (1-4) set the tone early, sweeping doubles play and carrying that momentum into singles action to secure the shutout victory over the Quakers (3-3).
In doubles competition, the visiting team quickly asserted control. At No. 3 doubles, Veva Willocks and Wilette R. Morales of Methodist blanked Guilford's
Amy Soto Salgado (Conover, N.C.) and
LaNyia Ward (Pittsburgh, Pa.), 6-0, to give the Monarchs an early edge. The Quakers put up a stronger fight in the top two doubles matches, but Methodist proved too strong. At No. 1 doubles, the pairing of Emma Hulicki and Caitlin Tihanovich handed
Ashley Belnap (Winston-Salem, N.C.) and
Erika Mendez (Asheville, N.C.) a 6-1 loss, while Annabelle Subirats and Katie Sechrist closed out the sweep with a 6-4 victory over
Jolie Nhouyvanisvong (Greensboro, N.C.) and
Chandler Sizemore (Sandy Ridge, N.C.) at No. 2.
Trailing 1-0 heading into singles play, Guilford needed a spark but struggled against a dominant Methodist lineup. The Monarchs clinched the match quickly, starting with a commanding 6-1, 6-0 win for Willocks over Soto Salgado at No. 5 singles. At No. 3, Tihanovich overpowered Nhouyvanisvong, 6-1, 6-1, while Morales added another point with a 6-4, 6-1 win against
Bethany Lupo (Tabor City, N.C.) at No. 6 singles.
In one of the more competitive matchups, Sizemore battled at No. 4 but ultimately fell to Sechrist, 6-4, 6-2. Belnap put up a strong fight at No. 1, pushing Hulicki in the first set before dropping a 7-5, 6-1 decision. The match of the day came at No. 2 singles, where Mendez and Subirats went the distance. After losing a close first set 7-5, Mendez responded with a 6-2 second-set win to force a third-set tiebreaker. However, Subirats held on in a tense finish, taking the final frame 10-5 to complete the Monarchs' sweep.
The Quakers will look to bounce back in conference play when they host Hollins University on Saturday, March 8, at 1 p.m.
#GoQuakes
