CLAREMONT, Calif. – Shocking #23 Whitman College in the opening round of the NCAA Division III National Women's Tennis Tournament, East Texas Baptist University overcame a 2-1 deficit to take the win, 5-3. The win for ETBU is their first-ever in the NCAA Tournament as they made their first appearance today, also.
ETBU started down, 2-1, in doubles. Kate Bramlett and Kaleigh Smith won the #1 doubles, 9-7, in a tiebreaker for the point. Tiffany Stankiewicz and Elisa Kendall fell, 8-3, in #2 doubles to Allie Wallin and Mary Hill. Mullika Seekhieo and Kellie Cawthon then lost to Lori Sheng and Jenna Gilbert, 8-4, at #3 doubles.
The battle continued in singles play as ETBU would need four wins to take the match victory. Whitman made it 3-1 lead taking #5 singles, 6-1, 6-1. Sheng defeated Seekhieo for the two point lead. That is the only singles point Whitman would win as ETBU won the next four singles matches. Smith took a third set from Greenberg, 6-2, 2-6, 6-0, for the second point. Bramlett followed at #1 singles after falling in the first set bounced back for the win, 2-6, 6-1, 6-1. Cawthon came through at #6 singles with a 6-4, 6-3, win over Gilbert and then Kendall clinched the win with a 7-6 (11-9), 6-4 victory.
ETBU will now have to face #1 Claremont-Mudd-Scrips at 12 p.m. on Saturday in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
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