Score: Salem 7, Greensboro 2

Records: Salem (5-12, 2-7 USA South) | Greensboro (0-11, 0-9 USA South)

Next Match:
Salem vs. N.C. Wesleyan | April 25 | Rocky Mount, N.C. | 3 p.m.

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – The Salem tennis team wrapped up the 2023 regular season schedule with a decisive 7-2 victory over USA South Conference foe Greensboro when the two teams collided at the Bert Lain Tennis Center on Sunday, April 23rd.

The Salem win, coupled with a loss by William Peace at Pfeiffer, clinches the Spirits' spot as the No. 8 seed in the USA South Conference Tournament. Salem will now make a trek to Rocky Mount, N.C., to clash with No. 1 seed N.C. Wesleyan on Tuesday, April 25th.

It marks Salem's first-ever appearance in the USA South Conference Tournament. The last time that Salem reached the postseason tournament came in 2016, when the Spirits were part of the Great South Athletic Conference. Between 2009 and 2016, Salem reached the Great South Conference Tournament five times.

Salem began the match by claiming a default win in No. 3, which provided the tandem of Harley Hedrick and Abrielle Eckenroth the victory. Greensboro quickly evened the match at one-all after Madison Bowen and Jada Ore posted an 8-1 win against Emily Griffis and Alana Bridges.

Seniors Haley Gilley and Alyson Gammons capped off their Senior Day festivities by pairing in No. 2 doubles, posting an 8-1 victory against the tandem of Michaela McIntyre and Kilee Kemp.

As with doubles, the Spirits received two points in singles with default victories that were credited to Ashley Linden (No. 5) and Eckenroth (No. 6). Bowen picked up the second Greensboro point of the match, following a 6-1, 6-0 victory in No. 1 singles versus Griffis.

Gilley laid claim to the second point of the afternoon in No. 3 singles, clinching the team victory for Salem in the process, by defeating Kemp by scores of 6-1, 6-0. The sixth Salem point came by virtue of a Gammons 6-1, 6-0 win over McIntyre in No. 4 matchup.

Bridges faced the toughest battle of the afternoon in No. 2 singles, claiming a three-set victory. Bridges earned the opening set win 6-2, but dropped the second set in 6-4 fashion. She grabbed her seventh singles victory of the season, second as a No. 2 seed, with a hard-fought 11-9 triumph in the third set.

Singles competition
1. Madison Bowen (GBORO) def. Emily Griffis (SAL) 6-1, 6-0
2. Alana Bridges (SAL) def. Jada Ore (GBORO) 6-2, 4-6, 11-9
3. Haley Gilley (SAL) def. Kilee Kemp (GBORO) 6-1, 6-0
4. Alyson Gammons (SAL) def. Michaela McIntyre (GBORO) 6-1, 6-0
5. Ashley Linden (SAL) def. No player (GBORO), by default
6. Abrielle Eckenroth (SAL) def. No player (GBORO), by default

Doubles competition
1. Madison Bowen/Jada Ore (GBORO) def. Emily Griffis/Alana Bridges (SAL) 8-1
2. Haley Gilley/Alyson Gammons (SAL) def. Michaela McIntyre/Kilee Kemp (GBORO) 8-1
3. Ashley Linden/Abrielle Eckenroth (SAL) def. No player/No player (GBORO), by default

Match Notes:
Doubles Order of Finish: 3,1,2
Singles Order of Finish: 6,5,1,3,4,2