AURORA, Ky. - Junior
Hannah Kelley's 6-1, 6-0 win at No. 6 singles over Jessica Silva served as the match-clinching point in No. 6 Abilene Christian's 4-3 victory over Tennessee-Martin Thursday afternoon at the Kenlake Tennis Center.
Kelley's singles match was only her second of the season, but she's won them both in helping the Wildcats jump out to a 6-1 start. Four of those victories have come against NCAA DI schools, including today's against the Skyhawks (1-4) of the Ohio Valley Conference.
ACU started the dual in a 1-0 hole after dropping two of three doubles matches by fewer than two points. Defending South Central Region champions Kelley and
Micah Hermsdorf, who were competing together for the first time this spring, were edged 9-8 (7) at No. 1 doubles by the duo of Alice Laing and Anna Marie Herbold. And at No. 2 doubles,
Brittney Reed lost her first doubles match of the season after starting 6-0, teaming up with
Laura Mongin in a 8-6 loss to Jodie Tiley and Ivon Simic.
Madelyn Walker and Laura Conrad prevented a UT-Martin sweep by beating Anna Winkelmann and Katie McCall at No. 3, 8-5.
Without third-ranked junior
Julia Mongin in the lineup, the ACU coaches moved all their players up one spot in the lineup, which netted a positive effect as the Wildcats won four of six contests.
Reed - DII's No. 33-ranked player - improved to 2-0 at No. 2 singles with a 6-3, 6-4 win over Anna Winkelmann, and one position behind her,
Laura Mongin posted a 6-3, 7-5 win against Ivon Simic.
Emily Conrad recorded the afternoon's biggest wins at No. 4 singles - where she's unbeaten at 4-0 - coming back from a set down to beat Anna Marie Herbold 4-6, 6-3, 6-1, and then Kelley clinched it with her straight-set win at No. 6.
Playing at No. 1 for only the second time this year, Hermsdorf lost her first match of 2012, dropping a three-set battle to Jodie Tiley, 6-0, 4-6, 6-2. Walker also lost at No. 5 singles to Alice Laing, 6-3, 6-2.
The Wildcats will remain in Aurora, Ky. Friday for a 9 a.m. match vs. Southern Indiana before hitting the road for a 6 p.m. dual at Lipscomb.
A match scheduled earlier in the day Thursday against Bethel University was cancelled.
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#6 Abilene Christian 4, Tennessee-Martin 3
Feb 23, 2012 at Aurora, Ky. (Kenlake Tennis Center)
Singles competition
1. Jodie Tiley (UTM) def. #13
Micah Hermsdorf (ACUW) 6-0, 4-6, 6-2
2. #33
Brittney Reed (ACUW) def. Anna Winkelmann (UTM) 6-3, 6-4
3.
Laura Mongin (ACUW) def. Ivon Simic (UTM) 6-3, 7-5
4.
Emily Conrad (ACUW) def. Anna Marie Herbold (UTM) 6-4, 6-3, 6-1
5. Alice Laing (UTM) def.
Madelyn Walker (ACUW) 6-3, 6-2
6.
Hannah Kelley (ACUW) def. Jessica Silva (UTM) 6-1, 6-0
Doubles competition
1. Alice Laing/Anna Marie Herbold (UTM) def. #4
Micah Hermsdorf/
Hannah Kelley (ACUW) 9-8 (9-7)
2. Jodie Tiley/Ivon Simic (UTM) def.
Laura Mongin/
Brittney Reed (ACUW) 8-6
3.
Madelyn Walker/
Emily Conrad (ACUW) def. Anna Winkelmann/Katie McCall (UTM) 8-5
