MURFREESBORO, Tenn. –
Katherine Petty and
Brooke Despriet overcame a 5-2 deficit to help 18
th-ranked Sewanee women's tennis sweep the doubles matches and
Mariella Congeni and
Nicole Nowak recorded straight-set singles victories in a 5-0 win against Berry College in the finals of the SAA Championships here Sunday at the Adams Tennis Center, the 10
th SAA Tournament title for the program.
The Tigers improved to 29-0 all-time in the SAA Championships, winning their 10
th straight crown in which they participated. CoVID-19 wiped out the 2020 league tournament and University policy prevented Sewanee from playing any events off-campus during the 2020-21 academic year. The program has posted a 95-0 overall record in conference matches and the league tourney since 2013.
Nowak and Congeni quickly won their doubles match at No. 3, 8-1, over Angelle Thornton and Olivia Walton and
Sarah Livingston and
Ansley Carpenter claimed an 8-3 victory at No. 2 versus Lacey Craig and Sara Mehia.
Despriet and Petty, ranked fifth nationally in doubles, fell behind early, 5-2, to Lauren Masteller and Juliana Mascagni but battled back, winning six of the last seven games for an 8-6 victory for Sewanee.
In singles Congeni and Nowak made quick work at Nos. 5 and 6 in the lineup to close out the championship.
Congeni registered a 6-1, 6-0, win at No. 5 versus Walton and Nowak finished off the victory with a 6-0, 6-0, decision at No. 6. Livingston was only two games from recording a win at No. 4, leading 6-3, 4-2, against Craig.
The Vikings were up a set at the top three spots in the lineup, with Masteller winning a tiebreaker, 8-6, at No. 1 over Petty. Mascagni won the first set, 6-2, and she and Despriet were on serve in the second set while Mejia won her opening set versus Carpenter at No. 3 but trailed, 4-2, in the second.
Sewanee earned the automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament, with the selection show set for May 6.
#18 Sewanee 5, Berry College 0
SINGLES
1.
Katherine Petty (SEW) vs Lauren Masteller (BER), 6-7 (6), DNF
2. #36
Brooke Despriet (SEW) vs Juliana Mascagni (BER), 2-6, 3-2, DNF
3.
Ansley Carpenter (SEW) vs. Sara Mejia (BER), 4-6, 2-0, DNF
4.
Sarah Livingston (SEW) vs. Lacey Craig (BER), 6-3, 4-2, DNF
5.
Mariella Congeni (SEW) def. Olivia Walton (BER), 6-1, 6-0
6.
Nicole Nowak (SEW) def. Angelle Thornton (BER), 6-0, 6-0
DOUBLES
1. #5 Despriet-Petty (SEW) def. Masteller-Mascagni (BER), 8-6
2. Livingston-Carpenter (SEW) def. Craig-Mejia (BER), 8-3
3. Nowak-Congeni (SEW) def. Thornton-Walton (BER), 8-1
Order of Finish: Doubles (3,2,1); Singles (5,6)
