Great South Athletic Conference

e R

For Immediate Release
April 21, 2008

Huntingdon repeats as women's GSAC tennis tournament champion
DECATUR, Ga. ---- The Huntingdon women’s tennis team won its second straight Great South Athletic Conference Tennis Tournament Championship on Sunday, with a 5-2 victory over host Agnes Scott.

With the win, the Lady Hawks (12-6) will advance to the NCAA Division III Women’s Tennis Tournament for the second consecutive season. Huntingdon has now won 17 consecutive matches against members of the GSAC and has not lost against a league foe since a 5-4 loss to Spelman on April 18, 2006. The Lady Hawks will learn their opponent and match location on Tuesday, April 29.

“I am very happy for our girls,” head coach Ximena Moore said. “This has been a tough year, but I was really proud of how they endured through the season. We have a tremendous group of seniors, who really kept the spirit of our team up all year. To come and defend our crown as Tournament Champions is a real honor. I am looking forward to another successful trip to the National Tournament with our team.”

After the doubles portion of the match, Huntingdon held a 2-1 lead. Despite falling at the No. 1 position, the Lady Hawks earned victories from the duo of sophomore Riley Prescott and freshman Kristin McDaniel at the No. 2 spot, as well as senior Brandy Milstead and sophomore Hannah Lee Dickinson at the No. 3 position.

In singles, McDaniel put the Lady Hawks up 3-1 with a straight-set victory over Shomonique Jones, 6-1, 6-4, at the No. 3 position. Dickinson forced match point with a 6-3, 6-2, win at the No. 6 position, setting the stage for Milstead.

Limited to only two regular-season singles matches due to an injury, the 2007 GSAC Player of the Year, defeated Julie Drinkard, 6-1, 6-3, at the No. 4 spot, securing the automatic qualifier for Huntingdon for the second straight season.

McDaniel was named the Tournament Most Valuable Player after winning all four of her matches this weekend.

COMPLETE RESULTS

Singles competition
1. Riley Prescott (HC) vs. Esther Kaplan (ASC) unfinished
2. Lindsey Burdette (ASC) def. Amanda Thomley (HC) 6-3, 6-4
3. Kristin McDaniel (HC) def. Shomonique Jones (ASC) 6-1, 6-4
4. Brandy Milstead (HC) def. Julie Drinkard (ASC) 6-1, 6-3
5. Nicole Weldon (HC) vs. Tara Brinkman (ASC) unfinished
6. Hannah Lee Dickinson (HC) def. Nikitris Deloach (ASC) 6-3, 6-2

Doubles competition
1. Esther Kaplan/Shomonique Jones (ASC) def. Amanda Thomley/Katie West (HC) 8-5
2. Riley Prescott/Kristin McDaniel (HC) def. Lindsey Burdette/Julie Drinkard (ASC) 8-2
3. Milstead/Dickinson (HC) def. Deloach/Chaffin (ASC) 8-3

Courtesy of Huntingdon Sports Information Office