HARROGATE, Tenn. – Opening up South Atlantic Conference play, the Lincoln Memorial University women's tennis team captured a 5-2 win over visiting Catawba College Saturday afternoon inside the Indoor Tennis Facility. The Lady Railsplitters, who improve to 9-2 on the season and 1-0 in league action with the victory, took the doubles point via wins at No. 1 and No. 3 doubles before gaining singles points at three of the top four flights.
 
The Indians fall to 4-6 overall and 0-1 in conference play with the loss.
 
"I didn't know what to expect in doubles, but it didn't take a genius to figure out that being up 1-0 in this type of match was going to be a big boost for whoever got that point," said head coach Marc Walters.
 
Senior Johanna Delisse and junior Julia Valls secured the doubles point for LMU with a 6-2 win at the top spot after sophomore Samantha Hogan and junior Kristin Vogel were 6-1 victors at No. 3 doubles. The Lady Railsplitters then followed up with convincing wins by Claudia Rodriguez (6-4, 6-0) and Vogel (6-1, 6-0) at No. 4 and No. 6 singles, respectively, to move out to a 3-0 lead in the match.
 
Catawba edged closer with triumphs at the No. 1 and No. 5 spots, before Delisse closed the door with a 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 victory at second singles. Senior Kiersten Waugh finished off the scoring for LMU, earning a three-set 6-2, 5-7, 6-2 win at No. 3 singles.
 
Up Next…
The Lady Railsplitters return to SAC action Wednesday afternoon in Jefferson City, Tennessee, where they will take on the Eagles of Carson-Newman at the Buddy Catlett Tennis Complex. First serve is scheduled for 2 p.m.
 
How to Follow
Stay tuned to LMURailsplitters.com, as well as LMU's social media platforms - @LMURailsplitter on Twitter, @LMURailsplitters on Facebook and @lmurailsplitters on Instagram, for complete coverage of Lady Railsplitter tennis throughout the 2019-2020 season.