Women's Tennis | 4/22/2024 2:39:00 PM
McPHERSON, Kan. — For the first time since 2018, the McPherson College women's tennis team are the KCAC regular season champions again after their first perfect KCAC season since 2017. The Bulldogs avenged their 2023 KCAC Tournament loss with a 5-2 win over Ottawa on Friday, before knocking off Saint Mary 5-2 on Senior Day.
MC last won the KCAC regular season title outright in 2017, and clinched a share of the championship in 2018.
MATCH ONE – McPherson 5, Ottawa 2
The Bulldogs won the doubles point thanks to a 6-1 win by Nashiku/Sanchez on court one, and a 6-3 win by Maxey/Garcia on court two. Isidora Hrnjak and Lily Keimig knocked off Vanessa Hofer and Kayla Ortiz 7-5.
Grace Maxey pushed the Bulldogs lead to 2-0 with a 6-3, 6-3 win over Alexandra Persson, but the Braves answered with a win on court two when Hrnjak defeated Zeynep Barut 6-4, 6-3.
Camila Sanchez made it a 3-1 advantage with a three-set thriller over Priyanshi Sharma 6-1, 2-6, 6-3, then Alexa Garcia clinched the match with a 6-0, 6-2 win over Keimig.
Taimi Nashiku finished off Alejandra Parra Herrera 7-6 (1), 6-1, but the Braves picked up one last point when Valeria Rodriguez took down Vanessa Hofer 7-5, 0-6, 6-4.
MATCH TWO – McPherson 5, Saint Mary 2
MC made quick work of the doubles point on Saturday, dropping just three games. Sanchez/Nashiku took down Llamas/Wolfe 6-1, then Hofer/Ortiz swept Rojas/Cajudoy 6-0. Maxey/Garcia finished it off with a 6-2 win over Finn/Rojas on court two.
Maxey pushed the lead to 2-0 with a quick 6-1, 6-0 win over Shannon Finn, but the Spires leveled the score with a pair of wins on courts one and two. Zeynep Barut fell to Cortlyn Wolfe 6-1, 6-3, then Tracy Llamas upset Camila Sanchez 6-3, 6-2.
But from there, the Bulldogs flexed their muscles, taking care of business in the final three matches.
Nashiku defeated Mia Rojas 6-3, 6-1, then Alexa Garcia swept the first set before winning 6-2 in the second set. Hofer finished things off with a 6-1, 6-1 win in the #5 spot.
As the No. 1-seed, the Bulldogs will receive a first-round bye and will open their KCAC Tournament run in Lindsborg, Kan., Friday (Apr. 26) against the winner between Bethel and Sterling.
