DANVILLE, Ky. -- After falling for a fifth straight time earlier in the day, the Covenant women's tennis team snapped the skid with a 5-4 win over Asbury on Saturday afternoon in Danville, Ky. Covenant lost to Centre 8-1 earlier in the day.
Covenant stands at 3-5 overall on the year.
Against Asbury, Covenant took a 2-1 lead after doubles. Claire Luger and Gracie Smith picked up an 8-3 win over Sarah Beth Alford and Alex LoPrinzi at the No. 2 spot, while Annie DeLuca and Jennie Spielman were also 8-3 winners over Emily Ross and Collyn Bradley at No. 3.
The doubles win for Luger and Smith marked each player's 41st career doubles victory. Luger and Smith are tied atop the program's career leaderboard in dual match doubles wins. The tandem also took a win in the Centre match earlier on Saturday.
In singles play, Aly Hall took a 6-1, 6-1 win over Caitlin Conyers at the top spot. Smith notched a straight set, 6-0, 6-0 win over Brianna Gipson at No. 5. The match-clincher went to Ester Eddy as she toppled LoPrinzi and rallied from a first set loss to win in three sets 0-6, 6-4, 10-3.
In the earlier match against regionally-ranked Centre, Luger and Smith were 8-5 winners over Emily Zelichenok and Abigail Kent at the second position. Covenant had other close matches, but could not pick up another point as Annie DeLuca fell in three sets at No. 2 singles and Smith was defeated 6-3, 7-5 at No. 5.
Covenant women will host Oglethorpe on Wednesday, March 15 on Lookout Mountain. First serve is set for 4 p.m.
The Covenant men's tennis team suffered a narrow, 5-4, defeat to Centre to open Saturday's play and then fell 8-1 to Asbury in Danville, Ky., in non-conference action.
Covenant drops to 3-6 on the year.
In the opener against Centre, Covenant grabbed a 2-1 lead after the doubles portion of the match. Matthew Harvie and Chris Cox knocked off Trey Akmon and Matthew Ko 8-6 at the top flight, while Logan Hull and Micah Fox were 9-7 winners over Logan Henize and Luke Brooks at No. 2.
Harvie and Cox both took care of business at the top two flights in singles play. Harvie defeated Akmon 6-1, 6-1 and Cox took a 6-3, 6-0 victory over Brooks at the second spot. But Covenant would not be able to find the clinching point as Centre rallied to take the victory.
Later in the day, Covenant took on Asbury and fell 8-1. Micah Fox scored the lone point for the Scots with a thrilling comeback win over Ty Abraham at the No. 4 spot. Fox dropped the first set 6-2, but then rallied to win the second set 6-4 and then the third frame 13-11.
UP NEXT
Covenant will be off until Thursday, March 16 when the Scots travel to Maryville for a USA South contest. First serve is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.