MONTGOMERY, Ala. – For the first time in program history, Loyola will be competing in the final round of the SSAC Championship tournament, after the Wolf Pack women's tennis team won two matches on Friday. With the two victories, the Wolf Pack's record this season now stands at 13-6, setting a new program best for wins in a season.
The third seed in the tournament, Loyola started their match with sixth-seeded Blue Mountain on Thursday, taking the doubles point before weather pushed the rest of the match to Friday, where the Pack closed it out in a 4-0 sweep. Having to play two tournament matches in one day did not deter the team, and the Wolf Pack clinched their spot in the final with a 4-1 triumph over second seed Mobile, which was ranked No. 12 in the NAIA.
Loyola will now meet top overall seed and NAIA No. 16-ranked William Carey in the championship match, which is scheduled for 10 a.m. in Montgomery.
The Pack didn't drop a doubles match in either of the contests. Lucy Carpenter and Fatima Vasquez were dominant, winning 6-2 against Blue Mountain and 6-2 against Mobile at No. 1 doubles to bring their season record to 10-5. The team of Elly Carpenter and Adele Fereres, now 4-2 on the season, also won both their matches, and the team of Avery Frierson and Micaela Ponce got a win at No. 2 doubles.
Frierson also came up big in singles, winning both her matches in straight sets. Fereres only lost one game en route to a 6-1, 6-0 victory at No. 4 singles against Blue Mountain, and Fatima Vasquez earned a straight-sets victory against Mobile.
Lucy Carpenter began Friday with a 6-1, 6-3 win at No. 1 singles, taking less than an hour to defeat her opponent for Loyola's first point of the day. She also ended the day with a hard-fought three-set victory (3-6, 6-3, 6-4) to clinch the team win in the Mobile match and secure Loyola's spot in the final.
You can keep up with the Pack by following Wolf Pack Athletics on Facebook at Facebook.com/LoyolaWolfPack, Twitter and Instagram @LoyolaWolfPack, and by checking out our website at LoyolaWolfPack.com.
Match One
No. 15 Loyola – 4
Blue Mountain– 0
Doubles
1. L. Carpenter/Vasquez (LOYNO) def. Natalini/Trifonova (BMCU) 6-2
2. Frierson/Ponce (LOYNO) def. Gascon/MacKay (BMCU) 7-5
3. E. Carpenter/A. Fereres (LOYNO) def. Kozakova/Webster (BMCU) 6-4
Order of finish: 1, 2, 3
Singles
1. Lucy Carpenter (LOYNO) def. Tsveti Trifonova (BMCU) 6-1, 6-3
2. Micaela Ponce (LOYNO) vs. Carlota Gascon (BMCU) 6-3, 6-6
3. Fatima Vasquez (LOYNO) vs. Kristina Kozakova (BMCU) 6-2, 2-6
4. Adele Fereres (LOYNO) def. Annabella Natalini (BMCU) 6-1, 6-0
5. Elly Carpenter (LOYNO) vs. Kiara MacKay (BMCU) 6-2, 2-6, 4-1
6. Avery Frierson (LOYNO) def. Chloe Webster (BMCU) 7-5, 6-3
Order of finish: 1, 4, 6
Match Two
No. 15 Loyola – 4
No. 12 Mobile – 1
Doubles
1. L. Carpenter/Vasquez (LOYNO) def. Garcia/Toledo (UM) 6-0
2. Frierson/Ponce (LOYNO) vs. Mzibri/Wild (UM) 4-3, unfinished
3. E. Carpenter/A. Fereres (LOYNO) def. Castello/Hrovat (UM) 6-1
Order of finish: 3, 1
Singles
1. Lucy Carpenter (LOYNO) def. Maria Toledo (UM) 3-6, 6-3, 6-4
2. Micaela Ponce (LOYNO) vs. Berta Castello 3-6, 7-6 (7-2)
3. Fatima Vasquez (LOYNO) def. Narjis Mzibri (UM) 6-2, 6-4
4. Adele Fereres (LOYNO) vs. Sofija Hrovat (UM) 6-0, 4-6, 4-2
5. Eva Garcia (UM) def. Elly Carpenter (LOYNO) 6-3, 6-2
6. Avery Frierson (LOYNO) def. Luana Wild (UM) 7-6 (7-3), 6-3
Order of finish: 5, 6, 3, 1
