ARLINGTON, Texas -- Hoping to advance to the NAIA Unaffiliated Group regional semifinals, the John Brown women's tennis team (4-7) had its three-match winning streak snapped and fell in upset fashion to Southwest (N.M.), 5-2, Thursday afternoon at the Arlington Tennis Center.
The Golden Eagles entered the regional tournament, which featured teams from the Sooner Athletic Conference, Red River Athletic Conference and the Association of Independent Institutions, as the fourth seed. The Mustangs (4-8), which had entered the tournament losers in five of its last seven, claimed the fifth seed.
In tournament play, matches end as soon as one team reaches five points. The Mustangs finished doubles action almost halfway there.
Senior Krizana Saucedo and sophomore Eva Berry made quick work of Jacinda Hatfield and Eliseth Villa, 8-3, at the top flight, but JBU dropped the next two doubles matches. Sophomore Caitlin King and Grace Cusick hung tough in an 8-5 setback at No. 2, but junior Taylor Russell and sophomore Clare Holden fell quickly, 8-1, at the bottom slot.
Facing a 2-1 deficit, the Golden Eagles received a shot of life when Holden knocked off Kasi Krieger at the fourth spot, 6-1, 6-4. USW responded with a trio of quick victories and clinched the match when Daisy Sanchez bested Cusick, 6-1, 7-5, at the fifth flight. Saucedo was about to finish off Maritza Hernandez in the top slot, 6-2, 3-2, but was stopped when the match had been finalized.
The Golden Eagles finish the season at 4-7.
Sports on 04/27/2016