Wildcats' season ends in loss to Lynn
ACU falls, 5-0, in first round of national tournament
ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, Fla. -- Abilene Christian University's record-setting run in women's tennis came to an end Thursday as the No. 7-ranked Wildcats dropped a 5-0 decision to sixth-ranked Lynn (Fla.) in the first round of the NCAA Division II national tournament at Sanlando Park.
The Wildcats finish their season at 31-6 and with a school record for most wins in a season. The Wildcats' loss snaps a streak of eight straight quarterfinal appearances for the Wildcats.
Three-time national champion Lynn, however, was by far the Wildcats' toughest opponent in the last nine years. Lynn has beaten ACU now three times in the last nine years in the national tournament, and two of those years it has gone on to win the NCAA Division II national championship.
The ACU-Lynn match started late Wednesday afternoon but was delayed by rain until Thursday morning. ACU had a 2-1 lead at No. 1 doubles and trailed in the other two doubles matches when the rain forced a stoppage in play.
Lynn wasted no time Thursday taking a big lead, winning all three doubles matches. Lynn has two doubles teams ranked in the top 10 in the nation, and each of those teams won handily. The No. 5-ranked duo of Masha Bayser and Andrea Kostricova handled ACU's team of Lana Pavlin and Holly Lindloff at No. 1 doubles, winning 8-5. At No. 2 doubles, the ninth-ranked team of Dragan Ilic and Victoria Weltz beat Rachel Taylor and Lauren Yarbrough, 8-4.
ACU's No. 3 tandem of Summer Beesley and freshman Meagan Brown put up a strong fight before falling, 9-8, to Marie Maussion and Dina Bajramovia.
Victoria Weltz -- ranked No. 24 in the nation in singles -- beat Pavlin, 6-1, 6-2, and then Ilic -- ranked No. 33 in the nation in singles -- closed out the match with a 6-0, 6-1 win over Lindloff.
