WOMEN'S TENNIS WRAPS UP THIRD PLACE FINISH
HELOTES, Texas -- In patchwork fashion, the John Brown University women's tennis team captured a third-place finish at the RRAC/SAC Unaffiliated Group Regional Tournament on Saturday (April 29), dispatching the University of the Southwest (N.M.) by a 5-1 final score.
Entering the match with five players, fifth-seeded USW immediately conceeded the third doubles and sixth singles slots, handing John Brown an automatic 2-0 lead.
Armed with a 6-2 lead at the second doubles slot, juniors Grace Cusick and Caitlin King grabbed a 6-2 win when the Mustang's Kasi Krieger had to retire due to the harsh heat, handing the Golden Eagles a 3-1 lead entering singles play.
With Krieger's early retirement, junior Eva Berry picked up a singles victory at No. 2 without ever taking the court, leaving the Golden Eagles within one point of a win.
Finally, Cusick took care of Jennifer Garcia by a 6-1, 6-1 final, handing John Brown a third-place finish and a final regular season record of 5-9.
The Golden Eagles graduated it's top singles and doubles player, Taylor Russell, at the conclusion of the match.
John Brown 5, Southwest 1
April 29, 2017 at Helotes, Texas (Northside Tennis Center)
Singles competition
1. Taylor Russell (JBU) vs. Jacinda Hatfield (USW)
2. Eva Berry (JBU) def. Kasi Krieger (USW) (early retirement)
3. Julia McNeill (JBU) vs. Nicole Salinas (USW)
4. Clare Holden (JBU) vs. Daisy Sanchez (USW)
5. Grace Cusick (JBU) def. Jennifer Garcia (USW) 6-1, 6-1
6. Caitlin King (JBU) def. NO PLAYER
Doubles competition
1. Jacinda Hatfield/Nicole Salinas (USW) def. Taylor Russell/Eva Berry (JBU) 8-3
2. Grace Cusick/Caitlin King (JBU) def. Kasi Krieger/Daisy Sanchez (USW) 6-2 (early retirement)
3. Julia McNeill/Clare Holden (JBU) def. Jennifer Garcia/NO PLAYER (USW)
