Lady Vikings open HAAC with two wins

The Missouri Valley College women's tennis team began its Heart of America Conference campaign last weekend with a pair of home wins.

Following a 9-0 loss at NCAA Division II member Truman State (5-1) on Wednesday, April 1, the Lady Vikings blanked Evangel, 9-0, Friday, and smacked Baker, 8-1, in the first of two Saturday matches.

The doubles teams of freshman Elanqua Griffin and senior Nicki Erickson of Marshall at No. 1, freshmen Tershelle Burrows and Juliana Doyle at No. 2, and junior Lindsay Tworek and freshman Davina Holtfreter at No. 3 got things rolling against the Lady Crusaders (6-5, 0-3 HAAC).

The Lady Vikings stormed by Baker (0-2, 0-1) without a loss until No. 6 singles. Valley (7-2, 2-0) closed with an 8-1 non-conference victory over Missouri Baptist (4-6), the only blemish due to an injury default at No. 4 singles.

The MVC men's team was swept in doubles during a 6-3 loss at Truman State and a 5-4 defeat at the hands of Baker.

Valley got three singles wins -- by freshman Jason Rolle at No. 1, sophomore Derek Gillilan at No. 2 and freshman Alvar Ribalta at No. 3 -- against the Bulldogs (3-2). Gillilan, Ribalta, sophomore No. 4 Diego Malaga and freshman No. 5 Alain Antoine won against the Wildcats (3-1, 1-0).

The Vikings (4-5, 0-1) stopped their skid with an 8-1 victory over Missouri Baptist (3-6), sweeping in singles and getting doubles wins from the teams of Rolle and Gillilan at No. 1 and Antoine and freshman Daniel Rhoades at No. 3.