Women's tennis splits matches

CONWAY -- Clare Holden recorded a pair of season-opening wins at singles and doubles action, and the John Brown University women's tennis team finished a 1-1 weekend against a pair of NCAA III teams last Friday and Saturday at the Hatcher Tennis Center.

The Golden Eagles (1-2) fell in a 7-2 setback on Friday evening against host Hendrix. Holden took a 6-3, 6-4 win over Sarah Nieman in singles at the fifth slot after teaming up with freshman Julia McNeill at third doubles to take an 8-4 win over the Warriors' tandem of Anlee Glass and former Siloam Springs standout Lauren Dickinson.

At the fourth singles spot, junior Eva Berry suffered a close setback to Sarah Walker, falling in a tiebreak, 10-3, after taking a 6-3 win in the first set. Walker used a 7-5 victory in the second set to force the tiebreak.

Returning to action on Saturday afternoon, JBU picked up its first win of the season with an 8-1 win over the University of the Ozarks. McNeill and freshman Maddie Madewell both picked up their first-ever singles wins at the third and sixth slots, respectively. Berry, Holden and junior Claire Griffin each picked up singles wins as the Golden Eagles took five of six matchups.

In doubles play, John Brown continued its strong play as Holden and McNeill grabbed a win at No. 3, finishing the weekend undefeated in tandem play.

JBU returns to action on Thursday at Arkansas Tech in Russellville.

Hendrix 7, John Brown 2

Feb 17, 2017

Hatcher Tennis Center, Conway

Singles

1. Pratheepa Ravikumar, Hendrix, def. Taylor Russell, JBU, 6-4, 6-3.

2. Lauren Mahaney, Hendrix, def. Claire Griffin, JBU, 6-0, 6-0.

3. Rebecca Sherman, Hendrix, def. Julia McNeill, JBU, 6-2, 7-5.

4. Sarah Walker, Hendrix, def. Eva Berry, JBU, 3-6, 7-5, 1-0 (10-3).

5. Clare Holden, JBU, def. Sarah Nieman, Hendrix, 6-3, 6-4.

6. Sarah Glass, Hendrix, def. Maddie Madewell, JBU, 6-4, 6-0.

Doubles

1. Pratheepa Ravikumar/Rebecca Sherman, Hendrix, def. Taylor Russell/Eva Berry, JBU, 8-3.

2. Lauren Mahaney/Sara Hoopchuk, Hendrix, def. Grace Cusick/Caitlin King, JBU, 8-5.

3. Clare Holden/Julia McNeill, JBU, def. Annlee Glass/Lauren Dickinson, Hendrix, 8-4.

John Brown 8, Ozarks 1

Feb 18, 2017

Hatcher Tennis Center, Conway

Singles

1. Karlee Hart, Ozarks, def. Taylor Russell, JBU, 6-1, 6-3.

2. Eva Berry, JBU, def. Imani Doyle, Ozarks, 6-3, 6-0.

3. Julia McNeill, JBU, def. Madison Sieber, Ozarks, 6-1, 6-4.

4. Clare Holden, JBU, def. Olivia Allard, Ozarks, 6-1, 6-0.

5. Claire Griffin, JBU, def. Maggie Johnson, Ozarks, 6-0, 6-3.

6. Maddie Madewell, JBU, def. Kirsten Endicott, Ozarks, 6-2, 6-1.

Doubles

1. Taylor Russell/Eva Berry, JBU, def. Karlee Hart/Madison Sieber, Ozarks, 9-8.

2. Grace Cusick/Caitlin King, JBU, def. Imani Doyle/Olivia Allard, Ozarks, 8-0.

3. Julia McNeill/Clare Holden, JBU, def. Maggie Johnson/Kirsten Endicott, Ozarks, 8-1.

Sports on 02/21/2017