ATLANTA - Aboard the Scottie Bus, the Agnes Scott Tennis Team departed the Main Loop Thursday morning, amidst a rousing send off from some 20 staff and faculty. The team is headed for Lexington, Va. to compete in the NCAA Division III Championships, hosted by Washington and Lee University.
The Scotties (13-1) will face Grove City College (14-4) from Pennsylvania at 10 a.m. on Friday, May 8. If victorious, Agnes Scott will take on Emory (18-4) on Saturday at 10 a.m. A win would send the Scotties to compete in the regional championship match on Sunday, May 10 at 12:30 p.m.
The Scotties earned the trip to the National Championships by capturing the 2009 Great South Athletic Conference Women's Tennis Championship on Sunday, April 26 on the campus of Wesleyan College, defeating Huntingdon College by a score of 5-2.
In the conference championship, Agnes Scott jumped out to an early 2-1 lead following the doubles matches, but it did not come easily for the Scotties. The No. 1 doubles pair of Esther Kaplan and Natalie Mayer trailed 5-2 to Huntingdon's Riley Prescott and Christian Vick before storming back to take the match 8-6.
In singles play, Huntingdon (11-5) evened the score at two points apiece, as No. 3 Kristi McDaniel won a hard-fought victory over Tara Brinkman, 6-2, 6-3. The Scotties, however, regained the lead when No. 6 Danielle Patton gave the team their third point of the day, defeating Kayla Heetland 6-2, 6-3. Shortly thereafter, No. 2 Lindsey Burdette of Agnes Scott wrapped up her match against Madison Jackson, 6-1, 6-4. The final point of the match was awarded to the Scotties’ Natalie Mayer, who defeated Christian Vick 6-0, 6-4.
The tournament's Most Valuable Player honor was awarded to Agnes Scott senior Lindsey Burdette, who won her No. 2 singles match as well as her No. 3 doubles match with partner Shamonique Jones.
#2 Agnes Scott 5, #1 Huntingdon 2
Doubles:
1. Esther Kaplan/Natalie Mayer (ASC) def.
Riley Prescott/Christian Vick (HC) 8-6
2. Kristi McDaniel/Kayla Heetland (HC) def.
Danielle Patton/Tara Brinkman (ASC) 8-2
3. Lindsey Burdette/Shamonique Jones (ASC) def.
Jaclyn Crossman/Madison Jackson (HC) 8-1
Singles:
1. Esther Kaplan (ASC) tied with Riley Prescott (HC) 6-2, 5-7
2. Lindsey Burdette (ASC) def. Madison Jackson (HC) 6-1, 6-4
3. Kristi McDaniel (HC) def. Tara Brinkman (ASC) 6-2, 6-3
4. Natalie Mayer (ASC) def. Christian Vick (HC) 6-0, 6-4
5. Shamonique Jones (ASC) led Jaclyn Crossman (HC) 6-4, 5-3 (30-15)
6. Danielle Patton (ASC) def. Kayla Heetland (HC) 6-2, 6-3