Lady Vikings split two HAAC matches

The Missouri Valley College women's tennis team closed out the regular season by splitting a pair of Heart of America Conference home matches.

After seeing their six-match win streak snapped the previous day by Quincy, Ill. (2-9), 5-4, the Lady Vikings dropped another 5-4 contest to William Jewell on Wednesday, April 15.

Valley took a 2-1 lead into singles play after getting doubles victories from freshmen Terrelle Burrows and Juliana Doyle at No. 2 (8-4) and freshman Davina Holtfreter and junior Lindsay Tworek at No. 3 (8-6).

However, the Lady Cardinals (9-7, 3-0 HAAC) roared back to take the top four singles tilts, the streak not broken until Holtfreter won a tough 7-6 (8-6), 6-2 decision over senior Ann Lewis of Marshall at No. 5. Tworek got a 6-1, 6-2 win at No. 6 singles.

It was the first time this season Valley had lost back-to-back dual matches.

After losing all three doubles contests Tuesday against Graceland, the Lady Vikings (10-4, 3-3) rallied with five singles wins for a 5-4 victory over the Lady Yellowjackets (4-4, 3-1) behind freshman Elanqua Griffin (6-1, 6-2), senior Nicki Erickson (6-2, 6-4) of Marshall, Burrows (7-5, 4-6, 6-2), Doyle (6-2, 6-1) and Holtfreter (0-6, 6-1, 6-4).

"Graceland is a good team, but we looked like we were asleep in doubles," remarked head coach Ryan Carney. "Fortunately, we pulled it together for the singles and played really well."

The Valley men lost both of their contests, starting with a 5-4 setback against William Jewell (7-7, 1-1).

After winning only one doubles tilt, that by the No. 2 team of freshmen Jason Rolle and Daniel Rhoades (8-5), the Vikings could only manage a split in singles -- Rolle (0-6, 6-4, 6-2) and freshmen Alvar Ribalta (6-4, 7-5) and Alain Antoine (6-3, 6-0) getting the decisions.

Valley was trounced by 10th-ranked Graceland (14-2, 4-0), but the lone win for the Vikings (5-7, 0-4) was a good one. A recent shuffle of the doubles line-up paid off when the No. 1 team of Ribalta and sophomore Derek Gillilan notched an 8-5 victory over sophomore Remy Caffardo and senior Thomas Brodbeck -- rated by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association as the No. 12 duo in the NAIA.

Valley will play host this weekend to the HAAC Tournament.