CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – After taking down the sixth-seeded Oglethorpe Stormy Petrels in the 2023 Southern Athletic Association (SAA) Women's Tennis Tournament Quarterfinal match just the day before, the Centre women's tennis team (13-7, 5-2 SAA) took on the conference semifinal round against the second-seeded Rhodes Lynx on Saturday. The third-seeded Colonels couldn't emerge as the victors in the event, falling on a final score of 5-1.
The Gold & White kept the doubles portion of the contest tight, only finding one win but coming as close you could get to finding a second.
Maddy Trinh and
Kayla Harger picked up their 13th doubles win of the season, pushing a dominant victory on a final score of 8-1 in the no. 3 spot of the lineup. The senior duo of
Lainey Hill and
Ella Rueff came close to catching a win in the final contest of the season, the pair pushing a tiebreaker set but eventually falling off an 8-7 (4) final mark. The third & final series of the day took place in the no. 2 spot of the order,
Grace Williams and
Carlie Mitchell falling on an 8-2 score.
Only three singles matches finished before the SAA semifinal came to a decision, Williams putting up a tough fight against her no. 5 Lynx competitor but fell on the 6-2, 6-4 final score. Rueff couldn't pull a victory at the top of the lineup, her final mark 6-2, 6-2.
Mamie Sevier was the final match to conclude in the semifinal matchup, the senior holding a final score of 6-2, 6-0 in the no. 6 spot of the order that fell by way of the Lynx.
There were three matches left unfinished in the event,
Lainey Hill catching a quick start in the no. 2 spot of the lineup in a line that read 6-4, 1-4. Mitchell had an incredibly close first set that looked to showcase a thrilling second, but will be left to the imagination 7-6 (7). The final series left on hold was at the no. 4 spot with Trinh, pushing a close second-set comeback on a score of 2-6, 3-4.
Saturday's contest wraps up the 2023 season for the Gold & White, first-year head coach
Morgan Cook pushing a great introductory season leading the women's team with a 13-7 overall record. Cook also collected five SAA victories in seven games, earning the no. 3 seed in this season's SAA Tournament.
