Crimson Hawks Turn Back UNCP In Hilton Head
HILTON HEAD, S.C. – Senior Christian Minnick rallied back from a first set loss to eventually overtake Alex Ballard in a 10-3 super set, but Indiana (Pa.) used five singles victories, as well as a doubles sweep, to book an 8-1 win over UNC Pembroke on Tuesday morning at the Hilton Head Beach & Tennis Resort.
The triumph marked the third-straight victory for the Crimson Hawks (7-2) who are ranked seventh in the latest Atlantic Region rankings by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association. The results evened up the all-time series record between the two squads that includes a 5-4 win for the Braves (3-6) over IUP last season in Hilton Head.
Ballard and partner Emilia Osborne gave the Crimson Hawks their first point of the day with an 8-1 win at No. 3 doubles over Maricel Quintero and Christian Minnick, but Indiana (Pa.) continued its roll with two more doubles wins, including Katie Eaton and Tabtip Louhabanjong's 8-4 victory on court No. 1 against UNCP's Jenna McGary and Hannah Herlocker. Ranvita Mahto and Kelly McBryan completed the doubles sweep for IUP with an 8-3 win over Winterbottom and Madeline DiNunzio on court No. 2.
Ballard toughed out a 7-6 win in her opening set with Minnick at No. 6 singles, but rebounded with a 6-0 rout in the second set before prevailing 10-3 in the super set. McGary looked to be following the same path in the featured match on court No. 1 by rebounding from a 6-2 loss in her opening set with Louhabanjong with a 6-2 win herself in the second set. McGary, however, would drop the super set by a 10-5 count.
Indiana (Pa.) would close out the day with four straight-sets singles victories, including Mahto clinching the team win with a 6-2, 6-1 win over Quintero on court No. 4. Eaton ousted Winterbottom 6-3, 6-3 at No. 2 singles, Osborne defeated Herlocker 6-3, 6-4, and McBryan bested DiNunzio 6-4, 7-6 (10-8).
The Braves will play again later today when they trek to nearby Savannah, Ga., to battle top-ranked Armstrong Atlantic (7-0, 4-0 PBC) at Bacon Park. Match time has been set for 4 p.m.
Indiana (Pa.) 8, UNC Pembroke 1
Mar 8, 2011 at Hilton Head, S.C. (Hilton Head Beach & Tennis Resort)
| Singles competition |
| 1. Tabtip Louhabanjong (IUP) def. Jenna McGary (UNCP) 6-2, 2-6, 10-5 |
| 2. Katie Eaton (IUP) def. Mia Winterbottom (UNCP) 6-3, 6-3 |
| 3. Emilia Osborne (IUP) def. Hannah Herlocker (UNCP) 6-3, 6-4 |
| 4. Ranvita Mahto (IUP) def. Maricel Quintero (UNCP) 6-2, 6-1 |
| 5. Kelly McBryan (IUP) def. Madeline DiNunzio (UNCP) 6-4, 7-6 (10-8) |
| 6. Christian Minnick (UNCP) def. Alex Ballard (IUP) 6-7, 6-0, 10-3 |
| Doubles competition |
| 1. Katie Eaton/Tabtip Louhabanjong (IUP) def. Jenna McGary/Hannah Herlocker (UNCP) 8-3 |
| 2. Ranvita Mahto/Kelly McBryan (IUP) def. Mia Winterbottom/Madeline DiNunzio (UNCP) 8-4 |
| 3. Alex Ballard/Emilia Osborne (IUP) def. Maricel Quintero/Christian Minnick (UNCP) 8-1 |
