Complete Results

ORLANDO, Fla. - The Western Carolina women’s tennis team opened its annual spring break trip to Florida against a tough Creighton squad out of the Big East. The Bluejays rebounded after an early loss at No. 1 doubles to claim the doubles point and went on to win the match 6-1 over the Catamounts. Sophomore Lauren McCall earned WCU’s lone point on the day with a win at No. 3 singles while sophomore Jordan Strickland saw her undefeated streak to open the season snapped with an epic three-set thriller.

Strickland and junior Savannah Taranto opened up the action with a 6-1 win at No. 1 doubles but the Bluejays took No. 2, 6-2, and No. 3, 6-4, to claim the point.

Creighton’s Ashley Ishimura gave Creighton a 2-0 lead after a 6-2, 6-4 victory at No. 1. The Bluejays clinched the match with wins at No. 4 and No. 5 before McCall picked up the first point of the day for the Catamounts.

McCall won the opening set against Darby Rosette 6-3 but Rosette responded with a 6-3 win of her own in the second set. With the match on the line, McCall dropped just one game in the final set to win 6-1.

Strickland was the next to finish as she battled back-and-forth with Michaela Henne. Henne won the opening set 6-1 and looked to be headed to a convincing victory but Strickland had other plans for the match. The sophomore battled back in the second set to force a tiebreak at 6-6 which she won 7-4 to take the second set 7-6 (4). In the third and final set it once again went to a tiebreak but Henne was able to end Strickland’s unbeaten streak with a 7-3 decision in the tiebreak.

With McCall’s win and Strickland’s loss the two are now tied at the top of the WCU results with 6-1 records on the season.

Creighton closed out the match with a 6-1, 4-6, 10-5 victory at No. 6.

The loss drops WCU to 3-4 overall on the season while Creighton improved to 6-4. The Catamount will now take on Hampton tomorrow at 11:30 am at Sanlando Park in Altamonte Springs, Fla.