ST AUGUSTINE, Fla. – The second-seeded Flagler College women's tennis team cruised to a convincing 4-0 victory over seventh-seeded University of Mount Olive to open the NCAA DII Southeast Regional #2 bracket in convincing fashion at the Flagler Tennis Center Friday morning.
The win marks the first regional win on the Saints' home court to put No. 11 Flagler (17-7) one win away from the Sweet 16, while the loss ends the Conference Carolinas' champions' impressive season at 17-3. Flagler will face the winner of third-seeded Queens University of Charlotte and sixth-seeded Newberry College Saturday at 1 p.m.
The strong doubles play that helped earn the Saints the right to host this weekend's festivities once again showed up. No. 8
Luisa Hrda and
Eden Schlagenhauf did their part, claiming a 6-2 win at first doubles for the German pair's 18th win of the year. The opening point was secured by the team adjacent to them,
Alessandra Traub and
Anika Nissen, who won at second doubles, 6-3, for their 14th win together this spring season.
Singles play saw the Saints continue their dominate play from doubles. The first match to be completed was at second singles, where Schlagenhauf started the postseason strong, cruising to a 6-1, 6-2 win for her 10th singles win of the season. No. 5 Hrda followed her doubles partner up with a 6-1, 6-1 win at first singles, improving to 3-0 in regional play in her career and winning her 10th straight win and 18th this spring.
It was a race between third singles, Traub, and fourth singles, Nissen, to clinch the match with the players playing next to each other up 5-3 and 5-2, respectively. Nissen finished first, with her opponent's ball going long as Hrda and Schlagenhauf stormed the court to embrace her as they earned their spot in the next round. The win is the Guatemalan's 20th consecutive singles win, not having lost since the first match of the season against No. 1 Barry University.
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