HOLLINS, Va. – The Salem tennis team saw its three-match winning streak come to a halt on Saturday with a pair of 4-1 setbacks to Davis & Elkins and King University at the Hollins Invitational.
Davis & Elkins, facing a 1-0 deficit after a forfeit in singles play, came through with a pair of doubles wins. Among them included an 8-0 victory by the tandem of Laura Vargas / Rosalie Naber, who downed Haley Gilley / Lauren Holman. The Senators quickly grabbed the lead with an 8-3 triumph by the doubles tandem of Cara Long / Elysia Cain, who downed Alyssa Cosentino / Carmen Wilkins.
Taylor Newman provided her Davis & Elkins unit with the team victory following a 6-3, 6-0 win over Makenna Mason in the clash of No. 1 seed singles. Ester Bolmenas collected the four Senator point of the afternoon with a 6-0, 6-1 victory against Lily Farr in No. 2 singles play.
Salem returned to the courts in the afternoon to face King, which emerged with a 4-1 victory as well.
The Tornados grabbed the 1-0 lead in the match as the tandem of Isla Bell / Murphy Harr came through with a 9-8 (10-4) win over Holman / Wilson in No. 1 doubles. Salem picked up the win in No. 2 doubles with Carmen Wilkins / Edi Nixon won by forfeit, 6-0.
King grabbed the 2-1 advantage with a 6-0, 6-1 win from Marilyn Rounstand, who downed Mason in No. 1 singles. Anna Mincey followed with a 6-2, 6-1 victory over Farr in No. 2 singles play, giving the Tornados a 3-1 advantage. Lauren Smorgonsky completed the singles sweep with a 6-2, 6-0 victory against Gilley in No. 3 singles play.
Salem will turn its attention to spring tennis when the Spirits return to action against Ferrum on March 17 at 1 p.m. For more information on Salem tennis check out www.salemspirits.com.
