The St. Edward’s women’s tennis team took down Heartland Conference opponent Arkansas-Fort Smith, 5-4 Friday afternoon. The match was played in the neutral site of Collins County College.
St. Edward’s (3-3) took the first point against the Lady Lions as freshman Paige Rachel and sophomore Audrey Tompkins downed the duo of Cara Gilham and Abby Whittemore in the No. 1 spot, 9-8. Senior Elizabeth Jacobi and sophomore Heather Brien followed in the No. 2 spot as they were able to defeat Emily Singleton and McKenzie McCullogh, 8-4. In the final doubles match, junior Anne Ruscoe and senior Caryn McGraw were defeated by Tamra Bryson and Christine Curran, 8-5.
In singles action, Rachel was pushed to three sets against Singleton. Rachel took the first set 6-2. In the second set, Rachel was just edged by Singleton, 7-6. In the final set, Rachel was able to pull away to take the point, 6-2. Tompkins followed by taking down Gilham in straight sets in the No. 2 spot, 6-0, 7-5. Jacobi followed in the No. 3 spot as she was edged in two close sets, 6-3, 7-6. In the No. 4 spot, Brien faced off against Bryson in three sets. Brien took the first set, 6-2. Bryson battled back as she took the second set, 4-6. Brien swept the final set to take the point, 6-0. In the No. 5 spot, McGraw was defeated by Delvaux, 6-3, 6-1. In the No. 6 spot, Ruscoe was defeated by McCullough, 6-2, 7-6.
The Hilltoppers will be back in action, Saturday for day two of their weekend competition in Plano. The Hilltoppers will have a double-header as they face off against Central Oklahoma followed by the host team, Collins County College. First-serve is set for 10 a.m.