Erskine quickly halts Trojans' regional run

By MOC Sports Information
Published in Sports on May 8, 2009 1:46 PM

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Sports Information

FLORENCE, S.C. -- The Mount Olive College women's tennis team penned its final chapter in possibly its most-historical season Thursday afternoon.

Erskine (S.C.) University triumphed in three of four singles matches and eliminated the Trojans 5-2 from opening-round play in the NCAA Division II Southeast Regional at Francis Marion University.

Mount Olive concluded its 2009 campaign with a 12-11 worksheet, which included its first-ever Conference Carolinas regular-season championship and second postseason appearance in program history.

The tandem of Kristen Jones-Sophia Medeiros claimed the Trojans' lone doubles point with an 8-4 victory. Neither player could pull off a singles victory, however.

Carol Aro-Jessica Souza erased a two-game deficit and climbed within 6-5 at No. 1 doubles. Souza won a dramatic rally to forge a 6-6 tie, but Erskine held serve and eventually took the match 8-6.

Aro seized the Trojans' lone singles point.

Ranked 36th nationally, Erskine (17-7 overall) dominated the singles scene and advanced to today's second round.

The loss marked the collegiate finale for Mount Olive's Aro and Jones. The Trojans are expected to return Medeiros, Souza, Camila Kurebayashi, Pietra Viana and Kelly Dunlap next fall.

"I feel like what we accomplished this year is something we can build on," said Medeiros. "This is a very united team and I'm confident that the new recruits next year will blend in nicely."

Aro echoed Medeiros.

"This was a very successful season, definitely the best season since I've been here," said Aro, a three-time, all-Conference Carolinas selection. "I wasn't expecting us to make the regionals. It feels good to be able to finish my collegiate career at an NCAA tournament."

2009 NCAA Division II

Women's Southeast Regional

(at Francis Marion Univ., S.C.)

(36) Erskine 5

Mount Olive 2

Singles: No. 1 Carol Aro (MOC) d. Tessa Rheault 7-5, 6-1; No. 2 Britton Bignon (E) d. Jessica Souza 6-1, 6-3; No. 4 Kacie Knox (E) d. Sofia Medeiros 6-2, 6-1; No. 6 Nicole Miller (E) d. Kristen Jones 6-4, 6-1.

Doubles: No. 1 Bignon-Knox (E) d. Aro-Souza 8-6; No. 2 Medeiros-Jones (MOC) d. Rheault-Rollins 8-4; No. 3 Smith-Miller (E) d. Viana-Kurebayashi 8-1.

Note: Nos. 3 and 5 singles were not completed