Box Score
Box Score (PDF)
MUNCIE, Ind. - Down 3-0 in their match at Ball State Sunday and then even with their backs to the wall on match point, the Morehead State women's tennis team put together a furious rally to notch a 4-3 come-from-behind win over the Cardinals.
"These girls showed tremendous heart and poise today," said head coach Kevin Fulton. "We refused to give up. We lost four OVC matches 4-3 last year and we lost the other day 4-3, so for us to win a close one it shows that this team is really starting to know what team unity is al about. We are really starting to come together, and this a fun team to coach."
The host team swept all three doubles matches to stake itself to a 1-0 match lead. Kayla Tuscany and Alix Young fell 8-1 to Georgina Thomson/Dena Bouheris at number one, while Lauren Delaney and Alexandra Rydberg were defeated 8-6 by Sarah Hebble/Lauren Pickrel on court two. At number three, Alix Lakow and Madeleinne Antero absorbed an 8-4 setback to Katherine Rist and Kylee Johnson.
In singles, the Cardinals won on court six to go on top 2-0 and then finished off the match at number one to sit just one point away from clinching. But, the Eagles had other ideas.
Rydberg started the rally by defeating Bouheris 6-4, 6-2 at number two. Young picked up a hard fought 0-6, 6-3, 6-1 victory at number three to pull MSU within 3-2. Freshman Brooke Helms fought valiantly and tied the match with a 6-1, 4-6, 6-4 decision over Johnson at number five.
At number four, freshman Tuscany lost the first set to Hebble 6-4 before rallying to take set two 6-1. Tuscany was staring at match point for the Cardinals, down 5-2 in set three, but she found the energy to stage a relentless rally and came back to win 7-6 (6) in the tiebreaker.
The Eagles will host their 2010 home opener on Feb. 17 against Xavier at 1 p.m.