Ravens Suffer Tough Loss in HCAC Tournament Championship

The top-seeded Anderson University women's tennis team suffered a tough 5-1 loss to the third-seeded Transylvania University during the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) Tournament championship on Sunday at Top Seed Tennis Club in Nicholasville, Ky.
 
Transylvania clinched an automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament with the win.
 
"Although we are disappointed, we aren't keeping our heads down," Coach Bryant Beard said. "I fully believe this is just the beginning for AU Tennis and every one of these individuals contributed to this wonderful season."
 
Despite losing the match by four points, Anderson (14-2) held the lead in two unfinished singles matches and was tied in another unfinished match at the time Transylvania (9-3) clinched its fifth point and the match was concluded.
 
The Pioneers swept the Ravens in doubles. Jessica Burton/Porsche Robinson (11-2) posted an 8-2 victory against Katrina Berban (Seguin, Texas/New Braunfels)/Jasmine Blair (Clearwater, Fla./Homeschool/Largo) (12-3) at No. 1 doubles. Merrick Irwin/Shelia Cetina (8-1) took an 8-4 win against Allison Newman (Greenwood, Ind./Greenwood)/Claire Miller (Indianapolis, Ind./Homeschool) (9-6) at No. 2 doubles. Alyssa Igyarto/Christina Duvall (5-2) edged Jordyn Roper (Belleville, Ill./Althoff Catholic)/Jenna Kuntz (Edinburgh, Ind./Southwestern) (3-2) in an 8-7 (7-5) victory at No. 3 doubles.
 
Burton (12-2) put together a 6-1, 6-0 win against Blair (12-3) at No. 3 singles. Igyarto (7-5) secured a 6-1, 6-1 victory against Roper (13-1) at No. 5 singles.
 
Miller (13-2) provided a points of the Ravens at No. 4 singles with a 6-2, 6-2 victory against Irwin (6-6) at No. 4 singles.
 
Newman nearly completed her No. 2 singles match with Cetina as she led 6-3, 5-3. Kuntz held a 6-3 4-2 lead against Duvall at No. 6 singles. Berban was tied with Robinson 6-0, 3-6, 3-3 at No. 1 singles.
 
Anderson won 14 matches in a row. At 14 wins on the season, Anderson broke the school record with 14 wins on the season, topping the previous record of 10 in 2011. The 2011 team also made the championship round of the HCAC Tournament.
 
"We met all of our goals during the Fall season so now it's time to aim higher and put the work in. If you see these ladies around campus, know that they have represented this institution well."