Mount Olive netters pick up win

By MOC Sports Information
Published in Sports on March 29, 2007 1:48 PM

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MOUNT OLIVE -- With one match remaining to decide a winner, Mount Olive head women's tennis coach Burt Lewis had no problem with the final outcome resting on his lone senior, Lauren Harris. After all, she's been there before.

Lauren Harris posted a 7-5, 6-4 win at No. 5 singles in the deciding match as Mount Olive extended its winning streak to seven with a 5-4 victory over UNC Pembroke in non-conference women's tennis Wednesday at Walker Tennis Center. The Trojans won two-of-three doubles matches and Carol Aro (No. 1 singles) and Emily Escolas (No. 6 singles) joined Harris with straight-set singles wins.

Mount Olive (10-11) became the first team outside of the Peach Belt Conference to defeat UNC Pembroke this season.

The Trojans took an early lead as Monica Barone and Kristen Jones won 8-6 at No. 1 doubles, while Escolas and Jennifer Moats won 8-3 at No. 3 doubles. Harris and Aro battled to a tie-breaker at No. 2 doubles before falling 9-8.

UNC Pembroke (9-9) rallied in singles play, capturing wins at the Nos. 2, 3 and 4 flights as the two teams were tied 4-4 with one match remaining. After winning the first set, Harris was down a break in the second set, but broke serve twice in the final three games to clinch the win.

Harris, a senior from Chesapeake, Va., improves to 5-1 in her career when she plays the deciding singles match.