HARROGATE, TENN. – Anderson women's tennis (11-3, 1-2 SAC) earned their first SAC win in thrilling fashion on Saturday afternoon in a 4-3 decision over the Lincoln Memorial Railsplitters (8-5, 0-1 SAC) at the Indoor Tennis Facility.

In doubles, AU was first on the board with a pair of victories. LMU raced to a 6-1 win at No. 3, but the Trojans responded with wins at the other two spots to take the point. Senior Valentina Borda and junior Alexandria Braithwaite were first with a 6-3 victory at No. 2, then sophomore Gigi Sompayrac and junior Grace Weaver earned a hard-fought 6-4 win at the top spot.

Lincoln Memorial came out firing in singles play, however. The Railsplitters ripped off straight-set wins at the No. 6, 3, and 2 positions, grabbing a commanding 3-1 advantage.

The Trojans weren't done yet. Braithwaite started AU back on the right track with a 6-2, 7-5 win the No. 4 to recapture some momentum. With the final two matches heading into deciding third sets, AU needed wins on both courts.

Freshman Mara Opre battled back after dropping the first set to keep the Black and Gold alive, winning 4-6, 6-1, 6-3. It all came down to court one, where LMU held a 7-5, 5-3 lead over Trojan senior Valentina Borda.

However, the Lima, Peru native continued to fight, staging a major comeback en route to a 5-7, 7-5, 6-0 triumph that clinched the match for Anderson, their first in SAC play this season.

UP NEXT

The Trojans return home to take on the Tusculum Pioneers at the Trojan Tennis Complex on Thursday, March 6th at 12:00 p.m. A season ago, the Pioneers defeated AU 4-3 in Greeneville, Tennessee.

Anderson 4, Lincoln Memorial 3

Singles results:

1. Valentina Borda (AU) def. Marta Melnichenok (LMU) 5-7, 7-5, 6-0

2. Adriana Pellizzari (LMU) def. Elena Ronconi (AU) 6-4, 6-2

3. Alexandra Ortiz (LMU) def. Gigi Sompayrac (AU) 6-1, 6-4

4. Alexandria Braithwaite (AU) def. Rosalie Carrier-Dulac (LMU) 6-2, 7-5

5. Mara Opre (AU) def. Mann-Ning Li (LMU) 4-6, 6-1, 6-3

6. Mia Rodriguez (LMU) def. Ensley Collins (AU) 6-1, 6-0

Order of Finish: 6, 3, 2, 4, 5, 1

Doubles results:

1. Gigi Sompayrac/Grace Weaver (AU) def. Lucie Palud/Rosalie Carrier-Dulac (LMU) 6-2

2. Valentina Borda/Alexandria Braithwaite (AU) def. Marta Melnichenok/Alexandra Ortiz (LMU) 6-3

3. Adriana Pellizzari/Mar Garcia Bucosa (LMU) def. Ensley Collins/Mara Opre (AU) 6-1

 Order of Finish: 3, 2, 1

Match Notes:

Anderson 11-3, 1-2 SAC

Lincoln Memorial 8-5, 0-1 SAC

T - 2:30

Att: 45